Objective: To compare the effectiveness of preoperative subconjunctival injection of Mitomycin-C at 24-hour and at one month before primary pterygium excision.
Study design: Randomised controlled trial.
Place and duration of study: Eye Department, Combined Military Hospital, Sargodha, from January to December 2014.
Methodology: Eyes of 60 patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups (A and B) of 30 each. In group A Mitomycin-C was injected into the pterygium one month before, and in group B Mitomycin-C was injected 24 hours before excision. All pterygia received 0.1 ml of Mitomycin-C in a concentration of 0.15 mg/ml. Primary pterygia greater or equal to 2.5 mm were selected and excised as a bare sclera technique. Postoperatively, all patients were followed-up for 06 months. The recurrence and corneoscleral complications were recorded. Pearson chi-square test was used to compare the recurrence between group A and group B.
Results: The recurrence of pterygium in group A was 3.3%; and in group B, it was 6.7%. Comparison of the recurrences between both the groups was statistically insignificant, (p=0.554).Postoperatively, no serious corneoscleral complications occurred in either group.
Conclusion: The preoperative subconjunctival injection of Mitomycin-C in a dose of 0.15 mg/ml given 24 hours prior to excision is as effective as 01 month preoperative injection for primary pterygium surgery with bare sclera technique.