Corneal morphological and structural changes measured with pentacam induced by pterygium surgery

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction: Pterygium has been related to the induction of astigmatic and optical aberrations and surgery could induce a reduction in these corneal characteristics.Purpose: Study main objective was to evaluate corneal changes and optical aberrations that occura after primary pterygium surgery, and as a secondary objective, to evaluate changes depending on the used surgical technique (simple excision vs. conjunctival plasty).Methods: Data collection was performed through Scheimpflug camera system for anterior segment analysis (Pentacam®): corneal astigmatism in diopters (K) and curvature radius and corneal aberration (Root Mean Square (RMS) Low order aberrations (LOA) and RMS High Order aberrations HOA) in a total of 18 eyes of 18 patients from the Hospital Universitario de Jerez (HUJ) who need pterigion surgery. Variables measured were analysed before surgery and 3 months later.Results: Results showed that there is no statistically significant change in astigmatism after pterygium surgery, although there is a statistically significant reduction in total RMS of the anterior cornea (p = 0.02), RMS LOA of the anterior cornea (p = 0.03) and RMS HOA of total cornea (p = 0.007), anterior cornea (p = 0.03) and posterior cornea (p = 0.03). There are not statistically significant differences between both groups when comparing the surgical technique used.Conclusions: No statistically significant changes in astigmatism after pterygium surgery have been found, but there is a significant decrease in optical aberrations, especially in the anterior cornea. It cannot be concluded that one surgical technique is superior to another.