Key Clinical and Histopathological Features of a Pterygium-Like Induced Lesion in a Rabbit Model.

Purpose: Surgery is the definitive treatment for pterygium; therefore, reliable animal models are required for translational research. The goal of this investigation was to establish a standardized preclinical model of pterygium-like lesion.

Methods: A subconjunctival injection of fibroblasts (NIH3T3) and extracellular matrix was administered to 22 New Zealand rabbits.