Mitomycin C Single Soaking during Surgery for Primary Pterygium

ABSTRACT

Complications of mitomycin C soaking method during pterygium surgery and its effect on recurrence rate were compared with postoperative use of topical mitomycin C. Sixty three patients(seventy three eyes) with primary pterygium received surgery with the bared sclera method. Thirty nine eyes randomly chosen were treated with cotton applicator soaked with 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C for 5 minutes after the excision of pterygium(soaking group). Thirty four eyes underwent the same surgical procedure and received topical 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C postoperatively, twice a day for five days(eye drop group). During the mean follow-up period of 13 months, recurrence rate was 15.4%(6 eyes) in soaking group and 20.6%(7 eyes) in eye drop group respectively. This difference was not statistically significant(p>0.5). There were no specific complications related to mitomycin C treatment in both groups during the follow-up periods. The soaking method of 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C was found as effective and safe as postoperative use of topical 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C for prevention of the recurrence of primary pterygium.