Epidemiology and recurrence rate of pterygium post excision in Ghanaians.

OBJECTIVES To determine the epidemiology and recurrence rate of pterygium after excision using bare sclera technique. DESIGN Prospective non-comparative study. SETTING Ophthalmology unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. METHODS The study involved 60 consecutive patients with primary apterygial from July 1998 to December 2000 who had bare sclera excision after informed consent. They were post-operatively followed up for 30-months. RESULTS Thirty-five patients (58%) were females. The patients' ages ranged from 17-75 years, mean (±12.6). Overall recurrence was 22(37%). The main complications encountered include were granuloma 20 %(n=12), restriction in medial rectus muscle motility 2(3%), persistent vascularisation at excision site 2(3%) and adherence leucoma with uveitis 1(2%). No significant association was found between recurrence and pterygium morphology, calcification, allergy and occupation (indoor or outdoor). CONCLUSION The recurrence rate after pterygium excision using bare sclera technique in Ghanaians is high (37%).