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. 2001 Mar;85(3):350–353. doi: 10.1136/bjo.85.3.350

Vascular patterns in pterygium and conjunctival autografting: a pilot study using indocyanine green anterior segment angiography

C Chan, P Chew, Z Alsagoff, J S Wong, D Tan
PMCID: PMC1723902  PMID: 11222345

Abstract

AIMS—To characterise the vasculature of pterygium using indocyanine green (ICG) anterior segment angiography and to demonstrate the pattern of revascularisation following conjunctival autografting.
METHODS—ICG anterior segment angiography was performed on nine patients with pterygium. Angiography was repeated at 1-2 weeks and 2 months following conjunctival autografting in these patients.
RESULTS—Angiography showed a single feeder vessel originating from the anterior conjunctival circulation in six cases (66.7%). This vessel branched to form the radial vessels of the pterygium. Following conjunctival autografting, reperfusion of the vessels in the conjunctival autograft was demonstrable as early as 1 week postoperatively from the episcleral bed. At 2 months postoperatively, the graft appeared well perfused with mild leakage demonstrable at the edges of the graft.
CONCLUSIONS—A single feeder vessel from the anterior conjunctival circulation branches to form the radial vessels in pterygium. Reperfusion of conjunctival autografts occurs as early as 1 week postoperatively from the episcleral bed.



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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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(A-D) Angiographic features in pterygium. The single feeder vessel (thick arrow) branches to form the radial vessels of the pterygium. The episcleral vessels (thin arrow) appear later.

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

Figure 2  

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(A-D) Angiogram 1 week after conjunctival grafting. The graft is fully perfused despite obvious gaps between the graft and host conjunctiva in the clinical picture. Leakage of dye is seen at the edges of the graft.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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