Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection versus mitomycin C application after primary pterygium surgery

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare subconjunctival bevacizumab injection and mitomycin C (MMC) application after primary pterygium surgery in terms of recurrence rates and complications. Patients and methods This prospective comparative clinical study included 90 eyes of 90 patients with primary pterygium who underwent excision with bare sclera technique. Patients were randomized into three groups: group A (30 eyes), in which MMC 0.02% was applied to the bare scleral area for 3 min; group B (30 eyes), which received 2.5 mg/0.1 ml subconjunctival bevacizumab injection at the end of surgery; and group C (30 eyes), which was used as a control group and did not receive any adjuvant medications after pterygium excision. Patients were followed up for 6 months, and the recurrence rates of pterygium and any complications were reported. Results At 6 months after surgery, the recurrence rates in the three groups were as follows: two (6.7%) eyes in the MMC group A, two (6.7%) eyes in the bevacizumab group B, and 11 (36.7%) eyes in the control group C, with a significant difference among groups (P=0.01). No serious complications, except subconjunctival hemorrhage, were observed in all groups. Conclusion Groups receiving topical 0.02% MMC and 2.5 mg/0.1 ml subconjunctival bevacizumab injections after surgery showed lower recurrence rates than the control group. However, no difference in the recurrence rate was observed between both groups.