The Effect of Subconjunctival Bevacizumab Injection after Primary Pterygium Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect and safety of subconjunctival bevacizumab injection immediately after primary pterygium surgery. METHODS: From October 2010 to June 2011, 54 patients (54 eyes) with primary pterygium who had received pterygium excision with the bare sclera technique were evaluated. Twenty-seven patients (27 eyes) in the bevacizumab group received a subconjunctival injection of 5 mg (0.2 ml) bevacizumab and 27 patients (27 eyes) in the control group received a subconjunctival injection of 0.2 ml balanced salt solution immediately after surgery. At the 6-month follow-up, the degree of fibrovascular tissue proliferation, the recurrence rate of pterygium and the effect of wound healing were analyzed prospectively. RESULTS: One month after the surgery, the degree of fibrovascular tissue proliferation was inhibited in the bevacizumab group compared to the control group (p = 0.028). However, 3 to 6 months after surgery, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. In addition, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the recurrence rate of pterygium and wound healing after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection after primary pterygium surgery inhibited the degree of fibrovascular tissue proliferation for 1 month and safe for wound healing. Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection has the potential for adjunctive therapy after pterygium surgery.