Intra-operative use of 5-Fluorouracil in pterygium surgery: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative application of 5-Fluorourail in pterygium surgery and the recurrent pterigyum postoperative.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

240 eyes of 120 patients with bilateral primary pterygium were operated. One hundred twenty eyes had 5-FLU (25 mg/ml) applied intraoperatively on a sponge for five minutes. One hundred twenty contralateral eyes served as controls.

RESULTS

After a follow-up of 90 days, 7 (5.83%) recurrences of the eyes which had 5-FLU applied intraoperatively were observed. In the control eyes, 25 (25.5%) recurrences were observed. Complications such as keratitis and lid edema were common in both groups.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that antifibroproliferative therapy with intraoperative sponge 5-FLU is effective and safe. Its use may be a useful adjunct in primary pterygium surgery.