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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may thwart recurrent pterygium after excision, autograft
Cornea. 2011;30:7-10.
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in conjunction with excision and limbal conjunctival autograft was associated with a low recurrence rate in the treatment of pterygium, a study found.
"Although surgical technique and surgeon experience may play a role, there is good theoretical evidence that [hyperbaric oxygen therapy] may have contributed to the low recurrence rate," the study authors said.
The study included 39 eyes of 39 patients with recurrent pterygium that underwent standard surgical excision, limbal conjunctival autograft and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Eighteen eyes had undergone previous beta radiation or mitomycin C therapy. This group had a mean follow-up of 23.1 months.
The remaining 21 eyes had no history of adjuvant therapy. Mean follow-up in this group was 19.4 months.
Study results showed one recurrence of pterygium in eyes previously treated with beta radiation or mitomycin C. No recurrences were identified in eyes not treated with radiation or mitomycin C.
No patients in either group experienced significant complications related to hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
"A randomized controlled trial is needed to further investigate the role of [hyperbaric oxygen therapy] in recurrent pterygia," the authors said. "We recognize that access to a hyperbaric unit may not be available to every center treating this disease, however, hyperbaric oxygen should be considered as a treatment option where it is available."