Ultraviolet light and pterygium.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of ultraviolet light (UV) as a causal factor of primary and pterygium recurrence. A conjuctival autograft transplantation was a surgical method of pterygium treatment. In the first group (38 eyes) were patients with primary and recurrent pterygium exposed to sun (worked outdoors), evaluating geodemographic status, and in the second group (20 eyes) were patients who were not. During 6-12 months of follow up recurrence rate after surgical removal was 27% in the first group and 10% in the second one. UV light seems to have an important role in cause of primary and recurrent pterygium.