Pterygium as an Occupational Disease in a 35-Year-Old Woman: A Case Report

Abstract

Pterygium is a fibrovascular growth extending from the bulbar conjunctiva toward the cornea, associated with chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and potentially related to outdoor occupations. This case report aims to describe the assessment of the relationship between pterygium and occupational exposure, as well as its management, in an oil palm plantation worker. A 35-year-old woman presented to the PTPN Bekri Unit Clinic with a foreign body sensation in both eyes for three months, accompanied by frequent eye redness, mild irritation, and occasional tearing. She had worked in fertilization and weed control for approximately 10 years, spending 6–8 hours per day, 5–6 days per week, in open areas without adequate eye protection. Examination revealed visual acuity of 6/6 in both eyes and triangular fibrovascular tissue on the nasal side of the bulbar conjunctiva extending to, but not beyond, the limbus. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral pterygium, with a strong suspected association with occupational exposure based on the seven-step occupational disease diagnostic approach. Management included education on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and eye care, along with the administration of artificial tears. The patient was scheduled for regular follow-up every three months and referral to an ophthalmologist if the condition worsened. This case highlights the importance of occupational exposure history assessment, early detection, and preventive measures to reduce ocular disorders among plantation workers.