Safety _ and _ efficacy _ of _ intraoperative _ 5 _ Fluorouracil _ in _ the _ m anagement _ of _ primary _ Pterygium

–Pterygium is a fibrovascular proliferation of conjunctiva onto the cornea which leads to considerable visual impairment due to corneal astigmatism. Surgical excision is the only treatment; however recurrence continues to be a complication. Therefore, ant metabolites like Mitomycin C & 5Fluorouracil have been used as chemoadjuvant to reduce it. Present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative use of 5 fluorouracil (5FU) in preventing recurrence of pterygium and to observe the complications related to 5FU. Twenty five cases with progressive primary pterygium, attending Ophthalmic OPD over a period of one year, were included in the study. 25 eyes underwent simple excision of pterygium followed by application of 0.5 ml (50mg/ml) 5Fluorouracil over bare sclera for 1minute. All case were followed up to 6months to observe the complications and recurrence. No serious side effect or complication was observed with 5 Fluorouracil. Overall recurrence rate was found to be 16 per cent.5FU was found to be safe and effective in the management of pterygium. Keywords––Antimetabolites, chemo adjuvant, 5 Fluorouracil, progressive pterygium, recurrence.