Introduction

Pterygium is a non-neoplastic elastotic degeneration originated in the bulbar conjunctiva that extends to the corneal surface. It can cause symptoms of discomfort, corneal irregularities, aesthetics issues thus compromising visual acuity and patients`quality of life. [1–3] The prevalence of pterygium varies worldwide. Global prevalence was estimated in 10.2% to 12%, reaching higher numbers in tropical regions. Several risk factors have been associated with pterygia, such as geographical latitude, residence in rural areas, old age, race, sex, sun exposure, chronic irritation and inflammation. [4,5]

Some studies have pointed to tear film and ocular surface varying changes related to pterygium, but consistent correlations remain unknown. [6–9] Although numerous theories have been listed in the pathogenesis of the pterygium (e.g. exposure to ultraviolet radiation, viral infection, oxidative stress, genetic problems, inflammatory mediators, extracellular matrix modulators) the mechanism responsible development remains controversial. [10] And a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with pterygium, the morphological alterations on the ocular surface and functional impact may contribute to specific approaches and more effective therapeutic proposals for this common ocular condition.

This study aimed to evaluate how ocular surface parameters correlate with pterygium clinical presentation and its impact on ocular surface structures and homeostasis.

Materials and methods

The present study had a transversal, observational and non-interventional design. It was performed after approval from the local research ethics committee (Research Ethics Committee of the State University of Campinas—Campus Campinas, CAAE 57716516.1.0000.5404 Nº1757.550) and was conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and current legislation on clinical research. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects after the explanation of the procedures and study requirements.

All propaedeutic methods were performed in accordance with specific guidelines and regulations. Data was collected during the ophthalmologic exams and in the inclusion of participants older than 18 years of age diagnosed with pterygium at the Cornea and External Disease Ambulatory, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Campinas.

Pterygium patients (n = 52) and healthy volunteers (n = 31) were included. We recorded personal and family history of pterygium, ocular and systemic comorbidities, ocular or systemic medications, visual acuity as well as a full ophthalmic exam. Ancilliary ocular surface evaluation consisted of: corneal topography, meibography, meniscometry, non-invasive tear film break-up time measurement, conjunctival hyperemia quantification using the Oculus Keratograph 5M (OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany). All procedures were performed by the same examiner as detailed described:

1. Tear film stability: evaluated the Non-invasive Tear Film Break-up Time (NITBUT) by Keratograph 5M through the evaluation of the point by point Placido concentric circles image during continuous eye-opening interval. The OCULUS Keratograph 5M device was used to perform a non-invasive method for observation and detection of the tear film rupture time–non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT). The area of first tear film rupture and its progression throughout the examination time are measured and recorded automatically without operator intervention. Avoiding the instillation of fluorescein eliminates any influence in the tear film content and properties and a misinterpretation of results. The software analyzes Placido's projected rings in the tear film, automatically detecting distortions or discontinuities in the reflected ring pattern. Results are recorded over time and space and translated into a color-coded map. When the corneal image is aligned the following message appears: [Please blink 2 times] and measurement are taken automatically. "Break (first)" gives the moment when the first break is detected on any surface segment. Break (Mean) gives the mean breaking time for all surface segments where the rupture occurred.
2. Tear meniscus height measured in millimeters in images taken by Keratograph 5M equipment.
3. Meibomian Gland Function: non-contact infrared meibography was performed in the lower and upper lid using Keratograph 5M. Gland dropout was assessed using meiboscan infrared device according to the instructions. Meiboscore was used for assessment of the meibography in the evaluation of the infrared captured images of the meibomian glands. The classification scale, adapted from Arita et al., used the following degrees for each eyelid: 0 (no loss of meibomian glands); 1 (loss of the meibomian gland involving less than one-third of the total meibomian gland area); 2 (loss between one third and two thirds of the total area of the meibomian gland); and 3 (loss more than two-thirds of the total meibomian gland area). [11]
4. Pterygium evaluation: pterygium patients were classified according their graduation: grade 1 to 4 according to fibrovascular tissue extension towards the cornea (grade 1 when the lesion reaches the limbus, grade 2 when it covers the cornea at about 2 mm, grade 3 when it reaches the pupil margin and grade 4 when it exceeds the pupil). Indeed, biomicroscopic aspect was noted as involutive atrophic or fleshy (involutive allows the visualization of structures immediately below and fleshy when fibrovascular tissue prevents proper visualization of underneath structures). [12] Hence, corneal topography images were taken for keratometries and astigmatism measurements.

Exploratory data analysis was performed through summary measures (mean, standard deviation, minimum, median, maximum, frequency and percentage). Comparison between groups was performed using the Wilcoxon test. The correlation between numerical variables was assessed using the Spearman coefficient. The level of significance was 5%. The analyses were performed using the computer program The SAS System for Windows (Statistical Analysis System), version 9.4. (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA).

Results

A total of 83 patients were included in this study (52 pterygium patients and 31 healthy volunteers). Mean age of 53.69 ± 11.29 (26–75) years old in pterygium groups and 57.32 ± 7.30 (39–72) in healthy participants (p = 0.6084).

Pterygia classification regarding tissue progression from limbus to the visual axis was: 1.9% as grade 1; 59.5% grade 2; 32.7% grade 3; and 5.8% as grade 4 (tissue over visual axis). In addition, 15.4% were atrophic and 84.6% had a fleshy/active clinical appearance. Corneal astigmatism induction was 2.65 ± 2.52 D (0.4–11.8). Table 1 shows ocular surface parameters in pterygium patients and controls and Table 2 shows data distribution according to the pterygium grades and appearance (Table 3).

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Table 1. Comparisons of ocular Surface parameters in pterygium and healthy participants.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213956.t001

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Table 2. Data distribution according to pterygium extension over the limbus (grades 1–4).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213956.t002

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Table 3. Data distribution according to the pterygium clinical presentation (atrophic and fleshy).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213956.t003

Compared to control participants, pterygium patients presented significant alterations regarding hyperemia (control 1.55±0.39–95% CI 0.02–0.34; pterygium 2.14±0.69–95% CI 1.95–2.36; p 0.0001), tear meniscus height (control 0.24±0.05 mm- 95% CI 0.22–0.26; pterygium 0.36±0.14mm—95% CI 0.32–0.40; p 0.0002) and meiboscore lower eyelid (control 0.29±0.64–95% CI 0.05–0.52; pterygium 1.38±0.95–95% CI 0.77–1.19; p 0.0001) and meiboscore upper eyelid (control 0.53±0.62–95% IC 0.29–0.76; pterygium 0.98±0.75–95% IC 0.77–1.19; p 0.0083).

We found that 88% of patients presented abnormalities on meibomian glands. Interestingly, in 54% of the upper eyelids and 77% of the lower eyelids, the meibomian gland loss appeared nasally in the same localization of the pterygium. Fig 1 shows the distribution of the meibomian gland involvement in the upper and lower eyelid and Fig 2 exemplifies the meibography alterations in pterygium patients. Indeed, correlation analysis according to both pterygium classifications were performed and corroborated to these findings. Regarding to the extension over the limbus in grades 1–4 meiboscore, significant correlations to the localization of the pterygium in both eyelid were demonstrated and when evaluating by clinical appearance atrophic pterygium meiboscore superior correlated with inferior compromise and in fleshy ones, both meiboscores correlated with the pterygium localization, as shown in Tables 4 and 5.

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Fig 1.

Meiboscore classification in control individuals (blue: lower eyelid; green: upper eyelid) and pterygium patients (yellow: lower eyelid; red: upper eyelid).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213956.g001

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Fig 2.

Examples of meibography alterations in pterygium patients where gland dropout (yellow arrow) occurred along with the topography of the fibrovascular tissue (red arrow) upper eyelid (grade 2; grade 2; grade 1) and lower eyelid (grade 1; grade 2; grade 2) respectively.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213956.g002

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Table 4. Correlations between meibomian gland dysfunction and ocular surface parameters according to pterygium grades (1–4).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213956.t004

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Table 5. Correlations between meibomian gland dysfunction and ocular surface parameters according to pterygium clinical appearance (atrophic and fleshy).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213956.t005

Regarding the subjective symptoms, the patients' complaints were evaluated as parameters such as tearing, ocular discomfort, aesthetics and blurred vision. Such symptoms are closely related to the tear film and ocular surface abnormalities described.

Discussion

The present study shows that pterygium has a great impact on the parameters and structures of the ocular surface. It can induce corneal astigmatism, conjunctival hyperemia, tear film abnormalities and significant structural alterations in the meibomian glands.

Ocular hyperemia can be considered as a clinical sign of inflammation that may suggest severity and progression of a specific disease. [13] High rates of hyperemia were observed in the eyes with pterygium, which may be explained by the number of fleshy pterygia present in this study and by the richer vascularization of the pterygium itself, even in the atrophic ones. The advantage of using the image analysis method is that one can eliminate individual variability and the bias of subjective classification. [14]

Although pterygium symptoms resemble dry eye and others ocular surface diseases symptoms, such as dryness and irritation, no decrease on non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT) was observed in this cohort. A study carried out in 2014 had already shown that the size of the pterygium does not correlate with the tear break-up time and the results of the Schirmer`s test. [15] Another study comparing Schirmer's test results and tear break-up time before and after pterygium surgery showed that, even with the removal of the pterygium, there were no changes in those tests results one month after surgery. [16] On the other hand, Ozsutcu et al. found lower values of tear film test and Schirmer I test in eyes with pterygium when compared to healthy eyes, which can be explained by the significantly higher tear osmolarity levels found in the study.[6] In our study pterygium patients had statistically higher tear meniscus height and no differences in NITBUT, which may be pointed as a picture of the ocular surface compensatory mechanisms. Higher measurements of tear meniscus may be related to chronic ocular inflammation and friction and abnormal distribution of tear film leading to surface disturbances in tear flow dynamics and reflex tearing, as described in previous studies.[16] Although, normal tear function and no alteration on tear meniscus height has been already described in the pterygium patients [14,17]

Pterygium can induce corneal aberrations that compromise patients’ visual acuity. Studies indicate the length of the pterygium and vascularization as predictive factors for increased induction of astigmatism.[17–19] On the other hand, pterygium excision leads to a decrease in acquired astigmatism to acceptable levels, as shown by studies that evaluated the impact of surgery on corneal astigmatism reduction.[20] Regarding the surgical procedure, there was no significant effect on the degree of astigmatism were found comparing different surgical techniques.[21]

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a chronic and diffuse disorder occurs in meibomian glands. The etiology of MGD includes primary causes which are not fully understood, and secondary causes including ocular disorders such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, etc., and systemic disease such as lupus erythematosus, Sjogren syndrome. [22] MGD was found in a significant number of pterygium patients. Interestingly, areas of meibomian gland loss coincidently appeared in the nasal topographic localization of the pterygium, both in the upper and lower eyelids. Wu et al described recently, a similar association of pterygium and MGD. This study reported NIBUT, meibomian gland dropout and meibum score alterations in pterygium patients.[9] However, besides these findings, by evaluating each patient meibography picture, an association of the dropout area related to the topography of the pterygium was observed in a considered number of cases, to our knowledge, no association with pterygium localization was described before. [23]

The ocular surface homeostasis is crucial to guarantee comfort, quality of vision and proper maintenance of all structures that compose this functional unit. Such peculiar relationship can be profoundly changed by the loss of regularity promoted by the pterygium growth, as well as changes meibomian gland and tear film changes described herein. However, a deep understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms related to those MGD and tear film alterations still requires further investigation. We can hypothesized that those changes might be related to local inflammatory conditions and the release of inflammatory cytokines that can spread to the anterior and posterior margin of the eyelid, resulting in meibomian gland alterations, as seen in other ocular surface disorders.[23] It was suggest direct inflammatory damage to eyelid due to elevated inflammatory status and the release of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4, and interleukin-5, may spread to the anterior and posterior lid margin, thus resulting in meibomian gland changes.[24] Indeed, chronic repeated inflammation might also cause meibum stagnation followed by the keratinization of orifices in the meibomian glands. [23] Another mechanism can be attributed to mechanic trauma, due to an effect of the direct friction caused by the pterygium in the tarsal conjunctiva may play a contributory role. Similar trauma condition have been studied in contact lens users, associated with adverse changes in meibomian gland morphology and in the condition of the lid margin and meibum, suggesting that contact lenses negatively affect meibomian glands.[25]

However, this finding demands further exploration. Of note, meibomian gland proper production and delivery is crucial to tear film stability and evaporative dry eye is considered the most common subtype of disease affection a great number of individuals worldwide. Thus, disruption of meibomian gland function negatively impacts both the quality and quantity of meibum and in turn affects ocular surface health. Increased tear evaporation, tear film instability and consequent hyperosmolarity, inflammation and ocular surface damage lead to ocular discomfort and visual disruption. The findings related to pterygium and meibomian gland described in this study, may indicate a need of closer attention regarding to quantification of related symptoms, search of clinical signs and overall preventive measurements to guarantee meibomian gland functional support, such as eyelid hygiene, mechanical expression and other procedures.

Some limitations of this study must be pointed out. Our sample consisted of patients that consecutively presented for consultation. Although with distinct grades according to the proposed classification system, the included participants had primary, nasal pterygia. Recurrent and temporally located pterygia may carry different features, not evaluated in this study. The use of noninvasive technology for ocular surface study has proved to be of great value, but a broad investigation of tear and tissue inflammatory mediators may enhance the understanding of pterygium mechanisms and the ocular surface changes described herein.

This study demonstrated a detailed evaluation of the clinical parameters of the ocular surface in the pterygium population and quantified the symptoms. Therefore, our results not only allowed for a contribution to the understanding of the disease but also created new perspectives for future studies.

Conclusion

The present study shows that pterygium impacts on ocular surface parameters, especially by inducing direct alterations in the pattern of meibomian glands and tear film.

Supporting information