Evaluation of tear film stability in pterygium & pingueculae

ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the degree of tear film stability in eyes with pingueculae and ptergia in patients from Mosul.
Patients and methods: Case-control study from private clinic and Al-Jamhori Teaching Hospital during a period of one year from Feb 2009.Tear break-up time were measured in 36 eyes with pterygia, and 37 eyes with pingueculae, compared to control group of 37 eyes.
Results: The mean tear break-up time (TBUT) was 11.13.6 sec. in the eyes with pingueculae & 11.46 sec. in the eyes with pterygium compared to 154.5 sec in the control group. Unstable tear film (TBUT less than 10 secs.) was found in 17 (47.2%) eyes with pterygia, compared to 13 (35.1%) eyes with pingueculue and 7 (18.9%) control eyes. Unstable tear film was significantly associated with eyes with pterygia.
Conclusion: Unstable tear film is associated more with pterygia than with pingueculae, other factors as environmental and racial ones should be evaluated.