Purpose: Study effect of unilateral primary pterygium on corneal endothelial cell density.
Methods: a cross sectional observational comparative study was conducted on 30 patient with unilateral primary pterygium who were attended to mansoura ophthalmic center on the period from September 2019 to September 2020 to assess corneal endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation, central corneal thickness using a non contact specular microscopy. The contralateral eye served as a control. Exclusion criteria was recurrent pterygium, uveitis, glaucoma, any history of ocular surgery and contact lens wearer.
Results: Thirty patients were included in the study, 19 male (63.3%) and 11 female (36.7%). There were statistically significant reduction in the mean corneal endothelial cell density (cells/mm) in eyes with pterygium compared to control eyes (2423.10 ± 248.97 vs 2539 ± 256.39 respectively with p value < 0.001). with no statistically significant difference in coefficient variation and central corneal thickness in pterygium eyes and control eyes.
Conclusion: pterygium eyes were associated with significant reduction in corneal endothelial cell density compared to contralateral control eyes.