Effect of pterygium surgery on refractive spherocylinder power and corneal topography.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of pterygium surgery on refractive spherocylinder power and corneal topography.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Twenty-four patients (27 eyes) undergoing pterygium surgery from January to December 2006 were retrospectively identified. Visual acuity, refractive spherocylinder power, and corneal topography were measured preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS

Improvement of visual acuity, decreases of refractive spherocylinder power, and significant differences of 3-mm topographic irregularity and 3-mm topographic astigmatism postoperatively were found. Differences of refractive spherocylinder power preoperatively and postoperatively correlated significantly with differences of 3-mm topographic irregularity (spherical, r = 0.828, P = .000; cylinder, r = -0.805, P= .000) and of 3-mm topographic astigmatism (spherical, r = 0.673, P= .000; cylinder, r = -0.811, P = .000) preoperatively and postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Pterygium surgery produces improvements in visual acuity, decreases of refractive spherocylinder power, topographic irregularity, and topographic astigmatism. Three-millimeter topographic irregularity and astigmatism have a close correlation with refractive spherocylinder power.