Simultaneous treatment of pterygium and temporal conjunctivochalasis

Abstract

Pterygium and conjunctivochalasis are common diseases in elderly people and are not uncommonly observed together. However, there have been few reports of the simultaneous treatment of pterygium and conjunctivochalasis. We report such a surgical method and describe the results of two cases. Two patients presented with pterygium accompanied by temporal conjunctivochalasis. We decided to perform simultaneous pterygium excision and free conjunctival autograft transfer using the excess conjunctiva from the conjunctivochalasis surgery. The free graft was obtained from the bulbar conjunctiva from the 6 to 8 o'clock position in the conjunctivochalasis. To reduce the temporal conjunctivochalasis, the conjunctiva was extended and sutured to the perilimbal conjunctiva and episclera at the 6 o'clock position using 8-0 polyglactin suture. Tear meniscus break-up induced by pterygium and by conjunctival laxity was reduced, and the patients' symptoms had been significantly reduced by several days postoperatively.