Refractive astigmatism and pterygium.

The refraction of 50 patients with pterygium and their age- and sex-matched controls was carried out. Patients with pterygium had surgery by the bare sclera method. A post-operative refraction was carried out at 12 weeks. A refraction was also done in both eyes of patients with unilateral pterygium. There was a statistically significant association between refractive astigmatism and the presence of pterygium (P less than 0.01). Astigmatism was the rule in most patients. Surgical removal caused a reduction in refractive astigmatism. The change in refractive astigmatism was as high as 1.50DC (diopter cylinder). The majority of the patients were in the presbyopic age group. Surgical removal of pterygium will significantly alter the refraction of patients.