AIMS & OBJECTIVES: To assess the volume of tear production and tear break-up time (TBUT) in pterygium patients at the Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a comparative study. Consecutive pterygium patients and their age and gender-matched controls were examined. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and ocular health was completed by each participant. Ocular examination included visual acuity test, anterior segment examination and direct ophthalmoscopy. Tear break-up time was assessed with sodium fluorescein strips and Schirmer’s test assessed the volume of tear production. RESULTS: Three hundred and twelve patients comprising 156 pterygium patients and 156 controls were studied. The age range was 30-65 years with a mean age of 43.9 ± 8.4 years. The female to male ratio was 1.5:1. The mean tear break-up time in pterygium patients was 11.2 ± 6.9 seconds (range of 2.2-40.7 seconds) and 12.7 ± 5.7 seconds in the controls (range of 2.6- 31.5 seconds). The mean Schirmer’s value was 22.2 ± 9.3 mm in pterygium patients (range of 2-35mm) and 23.7 ± 9.0 mm in the controls (range of 3 - 35mm). The mean TBUT and mean Schirmer’s values were also reduced in cases with bilateral pterygia compared to their age and gender-matched controls although there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The mean Schirmer’s value was significantly higher in eyes with unilateral pterygium compared to their corresponding eyes without pterygium. The most common dry eye symptoms seen were redness, (79 cases, 50.9%), itching, (71, 45.5%) and gritty sensation (51 cases, 32.7%).