Pterygium removal using a polyethylene glycol hydrogel adherent ocular bandage.

PURPOSE: To describe the result of using a polyethylene glycol hydrogel contact lens (ReSure; Ocular Therapeutix, Inc, Bedford, MA) as a protective bandage over denuded areas of Tenons after pterygium removal.

METHODS

Five sequential patients underwent pterygium removal with a conjunctival autograft and painting of bare Tenons in the area of the graft retrieval with a biodegradable polymer, and these patients were followed for 1 year for immediate postoperative pain, epithelial healing, and long-term conjunctival scarring.

RESULTS

All patients showed prolonged persistence of the polymer for up to 8 to 10 weeks with resultant increased conjunctival inflammation and scarring with no evidence of decreased postoperative pain.

CONCLUSIONS

This hydrogel polymer seems to cause prolonged inflammation and resultant scarring when used over extended areas of Tenons, and it has no role in reducing pain after pterygium surgery.