A Clinical Study on Severity of Dry Eye in Individuals with Pterygium at a Tertiary Hospital in South Kerala.

Purpose: To assess the severity of dry eye in individuals with pterygium in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 70 individuals with pterygium who were attending the outpatient department of ophthalmology. Objective dry eye tests were done, including Schirmer's tests 1 and 2, tear film breakup time, and tear meniscus height (TMH). In this study, patients with one or more positive clinical tests were diagnosed to have dry eyes. Dry eye was graded as mild, moderate, severe, or severe disabling.

Results: Among 140 eyes, 79 eyes had pterygium. According to Schirmer's test 1 in eyes with pterygium, 29.1% of the eyes had mild dry eyes, and 26.6% had moderate dry eyes. According to Schirmer's test 2 in eyes with pterygium, 25.3% of the eyes had mild dry eyes, and 26.6% had moderate dry eyes. Tear film breakup time in eyes with pterygium showed a mild dry eye in 25.3% and moderate dry eye in 17.7%. TMH in eyes with pterygium was low at 7.6%.

Conclusion: The majority of eyes with pterygium have mild or moderate dry eye according to Schirmer's test 1, Schirmer's test 2, and tear film breakup time. No eyes with pterygium have severe dry eyes. TMH was also low in a small proportion of eyes with pterygium. Dry eye evaluation by Schirmer's test and tear breakup time is, therefore, a crucial clinical tool for early detection and prompt management of dry eye syndrome in pterygium patients.