Purpose: To evaluate the expression patterns of several keratin proteins in pterygialepithelium.Methods:The proteins of K8, K10, K14, K16 and AE3 in the epithelium of 8 pterygiaand 4 normal conjunctiva were detected using immunofluorescent staining.Results: In pterygial epithelium, the staining patterns of 5 keratin proteins weredifferent with normal conjunctiva. No staining of K8, K10 and K16 was detected innormal conjunctival epithelium, but in pterygial epithelium, K8 and K16 were present infull thickness and K10 was present in superficial cells. In normal conjunctiva, only baselayer of epithelium showed positive staining with antibody of K14 and AE3 proteins, butthey were present in the full thickness in pterygial epithelium and the antibody of AE3protein stained the superficial cells heavily comparing with base cells.Conclusion: The abnormal expression of keratin proteins (K8, K10, K14, K16 andAE3) in pterygia indicates that the epithelial cells in pterygia are in the state ofhyperproliferation and Purpose: To evaluate the expression patterns of several keratin proteins in pterygia lepithelium. Methods: The proteins of K8, K10, K14, K16 and AE3 in the epithelium of 8 pterygia and 4 normal conjunctiva were detected using immunofluorescent staining. Results: In pterygial epithelium, the staining patterns of 5 keratin proteins weredifferent with normal conjunctiva. No staining of K8, K10 and K16 was detected innormal conjunctival epithelium, but in pterygial epithelium, K8 and K16 were present infull thickness and K10 was present in superficial cells. In normal conjunctiva, only baselayer of epithelium showed positive staining with antibody of K14 and AE3 proteins, but they were present in the full thickness in pterygial epithelium and the antibody of AE3protein stained the superficial cells heavily comparing with base cells. Confluence: The abnormal expression of keratin proteins (K8, K10, K14, K16 and AE3) in pterygia that that the epithelial cells in pterygia are in the state of type rproliferation and