Incidence of Pterygium in Teenagers -A Clinical Study

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate increasing occurrence of pterygium in young individuals and to suggest methods for its prevention. Methods: This was a hospital based prospective observational study carried out for a period of one year. A total of 30 eyes of 25 patients were taken who were diagnosed to have pterygium on slit lamp examination. All patients were less than 20 years of age. Patients who presented with complaints of irritation, redness and mass in the eyes were included in our study. Patients with history of trauma and chemical injuries were excluded in this study. All selected patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examination including visual acuity, refraction, slit lamp examination and fundus evaluation. The side, progression, position, autorefractometry and keratometry were noted in each and every patient. Results: A total of 30 eyes of 25 patients were included in our study among which 21 (84.0%) were males and rest 4 (16.0%) females. All of our patients belonged to age group 11-20 yrs. The complaint of pterygium was found more in patients who belonged to rural background (18, 72.0%). 5 (20.0%) patients had bilateral pterygium and rest 20 (80.0%) had complaint in only one eye. Majority of our patients had pterygium on nasal side (21, 84.0%), 3 of them on temporal side (12.0%) and one on both sides (4.0%). Majority of them had concern with cosmesis followed by diminution in vision and irritation in the eyes. Almost all of them (24, 96.0%) spent their time outdoors while work and play. Pterygium was graded as grade 1 when it just touched the limbus, grade 2 when pterygium was at half the distance between the limbus and pupillary margin, grade 3 when pterygium reached the pupillary margin and grade 4 when it crossed the visual axis to the other side. All of our patients had grade 1 and 2 pterygium. Conclusion: The prevalence of pterygium has been on a rise in these recent years in young individuals. Hence, adequate precautions like wearing protective glasses, hooded caps, brimmed hats etc. should be advised to young individuals in order to prevent them from pterygium. All of them should be educated for safety measures in order to prevent pterygium and hence to lead a good quality of life.