Purpose:

To draw attention to non-recurrence complications of pterygium surgery by reporting the cases of patients who were referred to our clinic.

Material and Method:

The data of 20 eyes of 18 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Age, gender, accompanying diseases, best corrected visual acuities at the time of referral and at last visit, and data related to primary surgery were assessed. The treatment modalities we used were noted.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 51.62±9.86 (range: 37-67) years. All cases had been operated for primary pterygium. Bare sclera technique had been used in 9 eyes and intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) had been applied in 9 eyes. Complications related to poor suturing technique were observed in 5 eyes and to excessive cauterisation - in 3 eyes. The detected complications were pyogenic granuloma, inclusion cyst, dellen, scleromalacia, limbal insufficiency, and globe perforation. Medical therapy was sufficient in 6 cases, whereas the remaining 14 eyes had to undergo surgical treatment.

Discussion:

Pterygium surgery should not be underestimated. Maximum attention must be paid in every step of the surgery and complications that might develop related to adjuvant agents should not be neglected. Perioperative antimitotic agent use should be saved for selected cases, excessive cauterisation and wide surgical dissections that might trigger cicatrisation must be avoided. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 151-5)

Keywords: Complication, mitomycin C, perforation, pterygium, scleromalacia