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PURPOSE To report an unusual case of epithelial ingrowth after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in a patient with recurrent pterygium, along with confocal microscopy findings of epithelial ingrowth. METHODS This is a case report and review of the literature. RESULTS A healthy 68-year-old woman presented with epithelial ingrowth with a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/60 in the left eye (-4.0 × 85 DC). She underwent pterygium surgery a decade ago, followed by recurrence 7 years later and an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in the previous year. Confocal microscopy showed vacuolated cells in the area of epithelial ingrowth, which were similar to conjunctival cells of the pterygium. The postoperative period after cataract surgery was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS This is the first case report to document epithelial ingrowth after phacoemulsification in a patient with recurrent pterygium and that demonstrates confocal microscopy findings showing conjunctival cells of pterygium as the origin of epithelial ingrowth. We recommend making clear corneal side-port incisions during phacoemulsification away from the site of pterygium in such cases and to check for postoperative wound leaks and tissue incarceration.