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Novel method of pterygium surgery optimizes visual, cosmetic outcomes
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SAN FRANCISCO — A sutureless method of pterygium surgery offers optimal cosmetic results the day after surgery, according to a study presented here.
The method, using amniotic membrane, yields high patient satisfaction, Arun C. Gulani, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Arun C. Gulani
"My desire has been to elevate ocular surface surgery cosmetic outcomes, much like with LASIK, when even 20/20 wasn’t satisfactory and now we’re aiming for 20/10," Gulani said. "That’s how I want all of us to think about ocular surface surgery."
Gulani said he uses a three-step "iceberg" technique of pterygium removal, so named because the lesion is three or four times larger than what is visible in the eye. The technique involves removing the entire pterygium, applying mitomycin C 0.04% to the lesion site and securing the graft with tissue glue.
"You have to remove the entire lesion," Gulani said.
A study included 300 eyes of patients with pterygium who underwent excision surgery with glued amniotic membrane grafting.
Study results showed that the procedure yielded rapid visual recovery, high patient satisfaction with cosmetic results and a low recurrence rate, Gulani said.
"At immediate postop and next-day postop, the patients look pretty much like nothing was done to them," he said.
The sutureless method enables subsequent laser refractive surgery or cataract surgery to enhance visual outcomes, Gulani said.
Disclosure: Gulani has no relevant financial disclosures.