EFFECT OF PTERYGIUM EXCISION ON INDUCED CORNEAL TOPOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES

Purpose. To determine the effect of successful pterygium surgery on as tigmatism and other corneal topographic indices. Methods. Preoperative and postoperative refraction and corneal-topography analysis were per formed on 16 consecutive eyes of 12 patients who underwent successful pterygium surgery, with statistical comparison of the pre- and postope rative visual acuity, refractive astigmatism, topographic astigmatism, Surface-Regularity Index, and Surface-Asymmetry Index. Results. Succe ssful pterygium surgery caused statistically significant improvements in visual acuity, refractive and topographic astigmatism, the Surface- Regularity Index, and the surface asymmetry index. Conclusion. Corneal -topography analysis is an important component of the evaluation of pa tients with pterygium, revealing significant abnormalities that are im proved by successful removal of the pterygium.