A pterygium is a benign, triangular, fibrovascular growth extending from the bulbar conjunctiva over the limbus and onto the cornea (Fig 1)¹. Pterygia are common, with world prevalence reported as 12% in a systematic review in 2018². A pterygium is an acquired proliferative disorder (rather than a degenerative one) due to ocular surface irritation that can occur in one or both eyes of patients – typically those who have been living in sunny countries. Ultraviolet radiation exposure, wind and dust, and viral infections are thought to abnormally activate fibroblasts and induce invasive properties, resulting in pterygia³. The exact pathogenesis, however, remains unclear.
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