Clinical Evaluation of Recurrence Rate of Pterygium Operation according to Mitomycin C Concentration

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The authors compared the recurrence rate and complications of primary pterygium operation with respect to mitomycin C concentration. METHODS: Four hundred twenty three eyes with primary pterygium underwent surgery using the bared sclera method. One hundred nineteen eyes randomly chosen were treated with 0.02% mitomycin C (Group I) twice a day for 5days, 138 eyes were treated with 0.01% mitomycin C (Group II), and 166 eyes were treated with 0.005% mitomycin C (Group III). RESULTS: During the mean follow-up period of 6 months, the overall recurrence rate was 14.7% (62 eyes). Recurrence rates in each group 8.4% (10 eyes) in Group I , 13.7% (19 eyes) in Group II , and 19.9% (33eyes) in Group III . Complications seen in Group I were corneal abrasion (1 eye), symblepharon (1 eye), and postoperative corneal scar (1 eye). Complications seen in Group II were symblepharon (1 eye), and postoperative corneal opacity (2 eye) and seen in Group III were symblepharon (1 eye), and postoperative corneal opacity (1 eye). We conclude that a higher concentration of mitomycin C (0.2 mg/ml) reduces the recurrence rate of pterygium. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of mitomycin C concentration of 0.02% twice a day for 5days to lower the recurrence rate and complications after excision of primary pterygium