Effect of Pterygium Surgery on Tear Osmolarity

Kemal Türkyılmaz,Berrak Şekeryapan,Ali Kurt,Mustafa Durmuş,Veysi Öner,Mehmet Şahin Sevim

doi:10.1155/2013/863498

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate changes of dry eye test results in patients who underwent pterygium surgery. Methods. Seventy-four patients who underwent primary pterygium surgery were enrolled in this study. At the baseline, 3-, 12-, and 18-month visits, measurements of tear osmolarity, BUT, and Schirmer test were performed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium did not recur, and Group 2, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium recurred after surgery. Results. The patients in Group 1 had lower tear osmolarity levels after surgery than those at baseline (all P < 0.001). In Group 2 the tear osmolarity levels did not differ from baseline after 18 months (P = 0.057). The prevalence rates of dry eye syndrome (DES) were lower than that at baseline and 18 months after surgery in Group 1 (P = 0.002). In Group 2, the incidence of DES was lower after 3 months than at baseline (P = 0.03) but was similar to the baseline rate after 12 and 18 months (both P > 0.05). Conclusions. Anormal tear film function associated with pterygium. Pterygium excision improved tear osmolarity and tear film function. However, tear osmolarity deteriorated again with the recurrence of pterygium.

Highlights

Pterygium is a common disease of the ocular surface characterized by the invasion of brovascular tissue from the bulbar conjunctiva onto the cornea
To the best of our knowledge, measurement of tear osmolarity has not been used to investigate the relationship between surgical excision of pterygium and dry eye syndrome (DES). erefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the changes in tear osmolarity, breakup time (BUT), and Schirmer test results in patients who had undergone pterygium surgery and to evaluate how these parameters changed when pterygium recurred a er primary surgery
3, 12, and 18-month visits, measurements of tear osmolarity and BUT and the Schirmer test were performed by the same investigator (KT) for each patient. e presence of brovascular tissue with a hori ontal length from limbus to cornea of ≥2 mm was accepted as pterygium and treated by pterygium surgery

Summary

Introduction

Pterygium is a common disease of the ocular surface characterized by the invasion of brovascular tissue from the bulbar conjunctiva onto the cornea It can cause chronic ocular irritation, induced astigmatism, tear lm disturbances, and decreased vision secondary to growth over the visual axis [1]. Several studies have used tear function tests, such as the Schirmer test or tear breakup time (BUT), to investigate the relationship between pterygium and dry eye syndrome (DES), with con icting results [5, 8, 9]. Erefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the changes in tear osmolarity, breakup time (BUT), and Schirmer test results in patients who had undergone pterygium surgery and to evaluate how these parameters changed when pterygium recurred a er primary surgery To the best of our knowledge, measurement of tear osmolarity has not been used to investigate the relationship between surgical excision of pterygium and DES. erefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the changes in tear osmolarity, breakup time (BUT), and Schirmer test results in patients who had undergone pterygium surgery and to evaluate how these parameters changed when pterygium recurred a er primary surgery

Materials and Methods

Results

Findings

Discussion