简介：Severalriskfactors,whichincludeheredity,ultra-violet(UV)lightandchronicinflammation,contributetopterygiumdevelopment.However,thereisnoreportintegratingthesefactorsinthepathogenesisofpterygium.Theaimofthisreviewistodescribetheconnectionbetweenheredity,UV,andinflammationinpterygiumdevelopment.ExistingreportsindicatethatsunlightexposureisthemainfactorinpterygiumoccurrencebyinducinggrowthfactorproductionorchronicinflammationorDNAdamage.Hereditymaybeafactor.Ourstudiesonfactorsinpterygiumoccurrenceandrecurrenceidentifythatheredityiscrucialforpterygiumtodevelop,andthatsunlightisonlyatrigger,andthatchronicinflammationpromotespterygiumenlargement.WeproposethatgeneticfactorsmayinterferewiththecontroloffibrovascularproliferationwhileUVlightor(sunlight)mostlikelyonlytriggerspterygiumdevelopmentbyinducinggrowthfactorswhichpromotevibrantfibrovascularproliferationinpredisposedindividuals.Italsojusttriggersinflammationandcollagenolysis,whichmaybepromotersoftheenlargementofthefibrovascularmass.Pterygiumprobablyoccursinthepresenceofexuberantcollagenproductionandprofuseneovascularisation.