ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and effectiveness of dermabrader to smooth the wound bed in pterygium surgery. A total dof 69 eyes of 62 patients were divided into two groups according to surgical method. 33 eyes of 29 patients who underwent pterygium surgery with bare-sclera technique and smoothing of the wound bed using dermabrader were included in group 1 and 36 eyes of 33 patients with bare aclera technique only were included in group 2. Postoperatively, the eyes were medically treated with topical mitomycin C(0.02%) two times per day for 5 days in both groups. The mean follow up visit was 12.1+/-2.89 months(range: 9-15months). Recurrence developed in 3(9.1%) of 33 eyes in group 1, while in 12(33.3%) of 36 eyes in group 2. This difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). This result suggests that the excision of pterygium using the bare-sclera technique, smoothing of the wound bed using dermabrader and low dose topical mitomycin C(0.02%) eye drops is a safe and effective method with a low recurrence rate.