Abstract: Primary pterygium is a triangular fibrovascular lesion originating from the conjunctiva that often breaks through the limbus and extends to the cornea. The pathogenesis of primary pterygium has yet to be fully elucidated, but ultraviolet light, wind and dust, viral infection, and other factors may be involved in it. Pathogenetic researches indicate that human herpesvirus(HHV) and human papillomavirus(HPV) are detected in pterygium tissue, but the prevalence varies greatly, suggesting that the virus infection may only act as one of the factors in pterygium pathogenesis or recurrence. If the involvement of the virus is confirmed in pterygium pathogenesis, antiviral medications or vaccination may become a new research direction for pterygium therapy.

Key words: pterygium, human herpesvirus, human papillomavirus