Pterygium concomitant with other ocular surface lesions: Clinical implications and pathogenetic links

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the co-existence of ophthalmic pterygium with other ocular surface lesions in a cohort of patients from the Cretan population. This is a retrospective evaluation of all pterygia in patients examined and treated at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece during an 8-year period (from June 2006 to June 2014). A total of 158 cases was examined. Ocular surface images and medical history were evaluated in order to detect concomitant ocular surface pathological conditions. Concomitant lesions included conjunctival nevi (5 cases, 3.16%), iris nevi (4 cases, 2.53%), conjunctival papillomas (8 cases, 5.06%), conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN; 4 cases, 2.53%) and 6 cases of hypertophy of the plica semilunaris (3.79%). Of note, pterygium was overlying the iris which was occupied by the iris nevus in 2 out of the 4 cases of iris nevus. Overall, our data indicate that ophthalmic pterygium may often co-exist with other clinically significant ocular surface lesions. The association of ophthalmic pterygium with conjunctival papillomas or CIN stresses the potential involvement of human papilloma virus in the pathogenesis of ophthalmic pterygium, whereas the topographical association of pterygium with iris nevus may offer support to the transcameral light pathway pathogenetic mechanism.