clinical and autofluorescence findings in eyes with pinguecula and pterygium

Purpose: to assess the autofluorescence size and properties of pterygium and pinguecula by anterior segment autofluorescence (as-af) imaging and demonstrate the difference of autofluorescence size presented in as-af imaging compared to the extend size of the conjunctival lesion measured by anterior segment slit-lamp photography (as-sle).methods:twenty-five patients with primary pterygium and twenty-five with pinguecula were included in the study. in addition, 25 normal subjects were also enrolled as the control group. the as-af characteristics of pterygium and pinguecula lesions were analyzed. the size of lesions displayed in the as-sle photography versus the as-af images were also compared. as-af images were obtained using a heidelberg retina angiograph which focused on the anterior segment. as-sle photography was acquired using a digital imaging system (bx900 haag-streit).results:there were 44 (58.7%) male and 31 (41.3%) female patients; 19 (76%) and 20 (80%) patients had bilateral pterygium and pinguecula, respectively. all pinguecula lesions reflected hyperautofluorescence pattern in the as-af imaging. in 24 (96%) patients, the hyperautofluoresecence pattern was larger than the size of the clinical lesions displayed with the as-sle photography. twenty-one (84%) patients with pterygium reflected a hyperautofluorescence pattern in as-af images; in one (4%) patient, the hyperautofluorescence pattern was larger than the clinical lesion size and four (16%) patients had no autofluorescence patterns in the as-af images. in the control group, in 14 (56%) subjects, a hypoautofluorescent pattern was revealed in the conjunctiva in as-af images. however, in 11 (44%) patients, hyperautofluorescence patterns were detected.conclusion: as-af is a useful modality to monitor vascularization in conjunctival lesions. pingueculae and pterygium show hyperautofluorescence in as-af imaging. the real size of the pinguecula lesions may be estimated with as-af characteristics, mostly presenting larger than the area size in as-sle photography. the autofluorescence size of the pterygium is smaller than the extent of visible pterygium in slit-lamp photography.