New Mediators and Growth Factors Affecting Pterium Growth

Pterjium is an ocular surface disorder and is a pathologic result of corneal invasion of the fibro-vascular proliferation of the bulb conjunctiva in the region corresponding to the lid space. Pterjium is a disease with high rates of recurrence after surgery. Nowadays, along with several new techniques that are used to prevent recurrence, antineoplastics are also used to stop the growth. Various growth factors and mediators, like some neoplasms, have been found to be effective in pterygium growth, invasion and relapse. In addition to growth factors such as stem cell factor and VEGF, an increase in histamine, carbonic anhydrase activity, in number of eph B4, and in nestin release was found while a decrease in IGFBP3 release was found. Studies are currently underway to stop the growth of pterygium and prevent recurrence.