Abstract
Purpose. To evaluate the effect of a fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline fixed combination on conjunctival graft morphology after primary pterygium excision. Methods. The patients who underwent pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft transplantation were randomized into three groups based on postoperative medications as the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline group, fluorometholone group, and dexamethasone group. Conjunctival graft thickness was measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The conjunctival graft hyperemia was evaluated using a high definition external camera. Results. The mean graft thickness was significantly lower in the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline group compared with fluorometholone and dexamethasone groups at 2 weeks (P = 0.002 and P = 0.012, resp.) and at 1 month after surgery (P = 0.003 and P = 0.013, resp.). The conjunctival hyperemia score was significantly lower in the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline group compared with fluorometholone and dexamethasone groups at 2 weeks (P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, resp.) and at 1 month (P = 0.039 and P = 0.040, resp.). The graft thickness and conjunctival hyperemia score were similar among the groups at 1 week and 3 months (P > 0.05). Conclusion. The findings of the present study revealed that treatment with the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline fixed combination may be helpful to decrease graft edema and to achieve better cosmetic appearance at 2 weeks and 1 month after pterygium excision.
Highlights
Pterygium is a common ocular surface disorder that is characterized by a proliferating fibrovascular tissue that extends onto the cornea
Most research studies into pterygium surgery have focused on recurrence rates, complications of surgery, and adjunctive therapy [17]
Conjunctival autograft with or without limbus has been popularized in recent years for closure of the defect, too few studies have mentioned graft morphology and graft appearance after pterygium surgery
Summary
Pterygium is a common ocular surface disorder that is characterized by a proliferating fibrovascular tissue that extends onto the cornea. When it causes ocular irritation, disfigurement, or visual impairment caused by its growth over the pupillary axis or induced astigmatism, surgical excision is indicated. Various surgical procedures have been described for the treatment of pterygium, nowadays the conjunctival autograft transplantation is the most commonly used procedure for the treatment of pterygium [1,2,3,4] This technique has been associated with low complications, low recurrence rates, and improved favorable cosmetic results.
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