J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2008 May;49(5):732-736. 10.3341/jkos.2008.49.5.732.

Relationship Between the Ocular Surface Temperature and the Nasal Predominance in Pterygium

• Kim JH
• Jeong JH
• Ha HS
• Lee HI
• Kim JC

• KMID: 2211702
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2008.49.5.732

Abstract

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between the distribution of the ocular surface temperature and the nasal predominance in pterygium.
METHODS
In order to identify the distribution of the ocular surface, the surface temperature was measured at four points on the eyelids and on the bulbar conjunctiva with a non-contact thermometer. The ocular surface temperature in the pterygium patient group was compared with that in a normal control group. The temperature difference at each point on the ocular surface was also examined.
RESULTS
In both of the patient and the normal groups, the surface temperature on the eyelid was at its lowest on the temporal lower eyelid, and highest on the nasal upper eyelid. On the bulbar conjunctiva, the surface temperature of the nasal conjunctiva was at its lowest, and at its highest on the upper conjunctiva. The most distinctive temperature difference between the patient and control groups was shown on the nasal and temporal bulbar conjunctivas, and statistically significant (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Considering the temperature distribution over the ocular surface, we propose that an intrinsic factor that causes the nasal predominance of pterygium could be the comparatively low local temperature of the nasal bulbar conjunctiva.

Keyword

Nasal predominance; Ocular surface temperature; Pterygium

MeSH Terms

Conjunctiva
Eyelids
Humans
Intrinsic Factor
Pterygium
Thermometers
Intrinsic Factor

Figure

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  Figure 1. Non-contact infra-red thermometer.

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  Figure 2. Result of ocular surface temperature (°C); NUL = nasal upper lid; TUL = temporal upper lid; NLL = nasal lower lid; TLL = temporal lower lid; SC = superior bulbar conjunctiva; IC = inferior bulbar conjunctiva; TC = temporal bulbar conjunctiva; NC = nasal bulbar conjunctiva.

Reference

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