ABSTRACT

Purpose:

To evaluate the corneal biomechanical properties using an ocular response analyzer (ORA) in patients with pterygium and to compare them with those in healthy subjects.

Material and Method:

The study included 84 eyes of 42 patients with unilateral pterygium. The study group consisted of eyes with pterygium and the control group comprised the healthy fellow eyes of the same patients. ORA measurements were performed in all patients. The values of corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc), corneal resistance factor (CRF) and corneal hysteresis (CH) were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using a t-test for independent samples.

Result:

The mean age of the 42 patients (23 female, 19 male) was 57±11 (range, 32-73) years. In the study group, mean CH was 10.4±2.0 (6.2-14.1) mmHg, mean CRF was 10.3±1.7 (6.5-13.2) mmHg, and mean IOPcc was 15.2±4.5 (7.6-23.3) mmHg. In the control group, mean CH was 10.5±2.1 (6.4-14.4) mmHg, mean CRF was 10.5±1.7 (7.4-13.7) mmHg, and mean IOPcc was 14.9±4.7 (9.1-26.3) mmHg. There were no significant differences in these parameters between the study and control groups (p>0,05).

Discussion:

Corneal biomechanical parameters measured by ORA do not change significantly in eyes with and without pterygium. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 94-7)