فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background and Aim: Pterygium is a relatively common ocular condition that grows on the conjunctiva and may progress toward the cornea and the visual axis, potentially leading to vision impairment. This condition can also cause complications such as dry eye, inflammation and particularly cosmetic concerns. In cases where the pterygium is progressive or there is a risk of vision loss, surgery is recommended, although the likelihood of recurrence is high. This condition has also been mentioned in Iranian traditional medical texts, with various treatments. The aim of this study is to describe the disease and its treatment methods in post-Islamic Iranian medicine. Methods: In this library review study, the terms "Zafrah" and "Nakhonak" were first searched in selected medical reference books from the 3rd to the 14th century AH using the Noor software. Subsequently, the definitions, causes, symptoms, as well as the treatment methods were extracted, noted and categorized. The recommended simple and compound drugs were presented in a table and the most commonly used ones were also extracted. Ethical Considerations: Honesty and trustfulness were observed by referring to the used texts and references. Results: Iranian physicians, like their Greek counterparts, were familiar with this disease and described it in the oldest medical and ophthalmology texts after Islam. They believed the cause of this disease to be the accumulation of thick humor and considered it more prevalent in dry temperaments, old age, the autumn season and arid climates. Various treatment methods were recommended for this disease. In the early stages, more attention was given to cleansing the body and local treatments, using herbal, mineral and animal-based medicines either individually or in combination. Cumin, licorice, rose oil, myrrh, ammoniacum and yellow myrobalan were among the most common medicinal herbs used in singular form. However, in more advanced cases, surgery and removal of the lesion were performed, the steps of which are similarly described in most medical texts. Conclusion: The descriptions provided by Iranian physicians and the used surgical methods are very similar to Greek sages’ knowledge. On the other hand, the description of the disease and related epidemiological points are consistent with modern findings. Although surgery and specific medications are currently used to treat this disease, it may be possible to utilize recommended treatments, particularly herbal medicines, to control the disease and improve patients' quality of life after surgery, considering the frequent recurrence of the disease or even in its early stages.