Effect of pterygium excision on mean corneal curvature.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the difference in mean corneal curvatures before and after pterygium excision. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Period: 1^st January 2015 to 1^st July 2015. Material & Methods: 68 patients aged between 18 to 65 years were included in the study. Patients with history of ocular trauma, ocular surgery, glaucoma, anti-glaucoma treatment, allergy to steroids, pseudo pterygium, recurrent pterygium and presence of corneal abnormalities such as, scarring that might affect the astigmatic value were excluded. All patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination by slit lamp and best corrected visual acuity and keratometric values were noted. Pterygium excision was done by a single surgeon. BCVA and keratometric readings were taken again after 2 weeks of pterygium excision. Results: Mean age was 37.60 ± 11.11 years. Out of these 68 patients, 44 (64.71%) were male and 24 (35.29%) were females. Mean pre-operative corneal curvature was 2.99 ± 0.69D and post-operative corneal curvature was 1.70 ± 0.40D with P-value of <0.0001 which is statistically significant. Conclusion: This study concluded that pterygium excision brings significant change in corneal curvature in patients of pterygium induced astigmatism.