Recurrence and Complication Rates among Current Pterygium Treatment Techniques: Pre-operative Subpterygeal Mitomycin-C Injection, Intraoperative Mitomycin C Application and Pterygium Excision with Conjunctival Autograft

Abstract

Objective. This study aims to determine recurrence and complication rates among patients who underwent three
current pterygium treatment techniques: preoperative subpterygeal injection of mitomycin C, intraoperative
application of mitomycin with pterygium excision and pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft.

Methods. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial in a tertiary hospital. We included patients with diagnosed
primary pterygium and who underwent either: A = pre-operative injection of 0.02% mitomycin C one month prior to
pterygium excision; B = pterygium excision with intraoperative mitomycin C application; or C = pterygium excision
with conjunctival autograft.

Results. We included 111 patients: a total of 120 eyes randomized to 3 groups (A, B, C) at 40 eyes per group.
After 24 months of follow-up, there was no significant difference in the recurrence rates among the groups (6/40
[15%] in groups A and B and 2/40 cases [5%] in group C; P=0.29). No complications were noted in groups B and C,
while 1 case of scleral thinning was noted in group A. There was no significant difference in the complication rates
among the three procedures (P=1.00).

Conclusion. There were no significant differences in the recurrence and complication rates among the three techniques. Careful patient selection and follow-up are recommended to prevent complications such as scleral thinning.