[Pterygiun in a tropical region. Analysis of 344 cases in Cameroon].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of pterygium in a Cameroonian population.

MATERIAL,

METHODS

Over a period of three years, 344 patients (132 female, 212 males) with pterygium were recruited in a prospective study in the Eye Department of the University Teaching Hospital (UTHY).

RESULTS

The prevalence of pteygium among the consulted patients during this period was 1.28%. The mean age was 40 years and 92% of the patients were older than 30 years. The clinical forms were various with a predominance of quiet non progressive forms. The recurrences and the complicated forms were frequent among the patients whose occupation was linked to exposure of the ocular surface. With respect to therapeutical aspects, the excision of the lesion associated with a transplantation of the conjunctiva had greatly improved the results, with a rate of recurrence of 12%.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of pterygion should be adapted to individual cases. A long-term follow-up of surgical cases is advised. We recommend that the public could be informed on this pathology through the media and suggest that this study would be initiated in the sahelian region of the country in the future.