The results of pterygium excision at Thammasat Hospital.

BACKGROUND Pterygium is a common ocular disease. Outcomes ofpterygium surgery are variable. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results ofpterygium excision, particularly the recurrence rate and complications of surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD Patient data who had pterygium excision at Thammasat Hospital from October 2010 to September 2013 were reviewed. Age, sex, primary or secondary pterygium, methods of surgery and complications were analyzed. RESULTS Three hundred and thirty-four eyes (307 patients) were studied. One hundred and ninety-two (62.5%) were in women. The mean age ± SD was 57.1 ± 12.2 years. Three hundred and twenty-two eyes (96.4%) were primary pterygium. Amniotic membrane graft technique was performed in 323 eyes (96.7%). Pterygium recurred after surgery in 80 eyes (24.0%). Intra-ocular pressure increased more than five mmHg in 34 eyes (10.2%) after steroids use. Scleral thinning was found infive eyes (1.5%) and four in this group were treated with Mitomycin C. There was granulation tissue formation in one eye (0.3%). CONCLUSION Pterygium excision with amniotic membrane graft technique was widely operated at Thammasat Hospital and recurrence after surgery was rather high. Increased intra-ocular pressure after steroids use was common complication. Scleral thinning was a critical problem with the application of Mitomycin C.