Pterygium--an ophthalmic enigma.

Rennie induced complications have occurred including cataract, corneal problems, hyphaema, and focal iris vasculopathy.The authors conclude that the study provides an adequate assessment of the early complications following plaque radiotherapy.They point to the fact that radiation compli- cations usually occur in the first 12 to 24 months after plaque radiotherapy, and that the mean follow up for iris melanomas in this study was 26 months.While this is true, it is apparent from the results that complications, particularly cataract, tended to occur in those patients with the longest follow up and it is possible that further adverse effects may occur in time.Despite these complications, useful vision was preserved in a significant number of cases.Plaque radiotherapy appears to provide the clinician with a viable alternative to enucleation in the management of large diffuse iris melanomas.