Changes in the Corneal Curvature and Recurrence Rate following Pterygium Surgery with Relation to Pterygium Size and Morphology

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We examined changes in the corneal curvature and recurrence rate following pterygium surgery with relation to pterygium size and morphology. METHODS: One hundred eyes with primary nasal pterygia were graded as atrophic(Group 1), intermediate (Group 2), or fleshy(Group 3) according to morphology and grouped as small area group or large area group according to an assessment of pterygium length from and along the limbus. Corneal curvature was measured with autokeratometer at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 6months preoperatively and postopera-tively as well. Recurrence was evaluated at the same periods. RESULTS: Each group had no significant difference(p>0.05) to preoperative corneal curvature when pterygia were divided according to morphology. Large area group had significantly smaller corneal curvature than the preoperative one(p0.05). The angle of astigmatism had the tendency of against-the-rule at 3 days postoperatively(163.3degrees), more strikingly in small area group(159.1degrees). The recurrence rate was 10% totally with no significant difference among each group(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of the corneal curvature following pterygium surgery was smaller than the preoperative one and the change of angle had the tendency of against-the-rule astigmatism. Surgically induced changes in the corneal curvature and recurrence rate related to morphology had no significant difference, but preoperative corneal curvature and postoperative changes were related to pterygium size.