Purpose: To describe the pterygium structure with a high-resolution in vivo confocal microscope and to show the typical components of active pterygium.
Methods: In this study, 15 patients with 20 pterygia were examined. None of them had had prior pterygium surgery. Slit lamp examination and in vivo confocal microscopy imaging (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II Rostock Cornea Module) were performed.
Results: The images obtained consisted of two-dimensional high-resolution optical sections. We could identify the pterygial epithelium and its border, pterygial stroma and its vascularization, the pterygium corneal limits, and numerous inflammatory cells in active pterygia.
Discussion: Many reports have been written about pterygium structure. In vivo confocal microscopy imaging is a new approach to this pathology and provides a precise evaluation of active pterygium.