Postoperative Recurrence Rate of Scleral Fixation Technique and Bare Scleral Technique in Primary Pterygium Operation

ABSTRACT

Pterygium is a common surgical ocular disease which recurs frequently postoperatively. Numerous different techniques have been developed for the successful surgical treatment of pterygium. It was theorized that the pterygium recurrence after surgery would be prevented if scar tissue is formed on the bare sclera and if the corneal epithelium heals before the conjunctival epithelium reaches the limbus. We compared the recurrence rate of pterygium and complications after bare sclera technique with those after scleral fixation technique by which remaining conjunctiva was anchored tightly to the adjacent sclera with sutures. In the first group, 94 patients (103 eyes) operated by scleral fixation technique were composed of 45 male and 49 female. Their mean age was 57.2+/-9.7 years and mean follow-up period was 12.50+/-2.53 months. In the second group, 96 patients(101 eyes) operated by bare sclera technique were composed of 47 male and 49 female. Their mean age was 56.3+/-9.2 years and mean follow-up period was 12.12+/-2.41 months. The recurrence rate was 9.7%(10 eyes) in scleral fixation technique group and 32.7%(33 eyes) in bare sclera technique group. This difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). A case of postoperative scleromalacia was observed in the former group. The scleral fixation technique (as modified bare sclera technique) seems to be more effective for reducing postoperative recurrence of primary pterygium than simple bare sclera technique.