Studies on the tear film in climatic droplet keratopathy and pterygium
H. R. Taylor
Tear function tests were performed on 30 Australian Aborigines, and the
results obtained were compared with the results obtained in 101 mildly
hypertensive Europeans. Aborigines had a significant abnormality in tear
break-up time, which may be related to conjunctival scarring caused by
trachoma. The tests used failed to show any tear film abnormalities
associated with the presence of either pterygium or climatic droplet
keratopathy other than a discontinuity of the marginal tear strip, which is
probably a secondary phenomenon. It seems unlikely that either pterygium or
climatic droplet keratopathy is caused by a gross abnormality of the tear
film.
