Efficacy of autologous fibrin glue versus sutures in reducing astigmatism following pterygium surgery: A 1-year randomized controlled study

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the astigmatic changes before and after pterygium surgery and to study the effect of autologous fibrin glue over sutures in terms of efficacy in reducing corneal astigmatism.SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with primary pterygia were taken up and divided as follows: Conjunctival autograft with autologous fibrin glue as Group 1 (n = 22) and autograft with 8-0 vicryl sutures as Group 2 (n = 22). All patients were preoperatively assessed for visual acuity, anterior, posterior segments, and Keratometric values using Bausch-Lomb keratometer on postoperative day 1, 7, 1 month, and 3 months.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mann–Whitney test was performed to compare the median keratometric astigmatic changes preoperatively and postoperatively between the groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS: 50.5 was the mean age and 14.81 standard deviation (SD) in Group 1 and 48.86 was the mean and 13.23 SD in Group 2. Group 1 had 40.9% males and 59.1% females, Group 2 had 54.5% males and 45.5% females. The preoperative keratometric values significantly decreased postoperatively in both groups and the median postoperative keratometric value was significantly reduced in Group 1 (0.5) as compared to Group 2 (1.25). Pterygium excision using autologous blood was more effective in reducing corneal astigmatism.CONCLUSION: Pterygium excision surgery reduces corneal astigmatism and thus improves visual acuity. Autologous blood is better option to attach the conjunctival autograft than sutures in reducing astigmatism.