Postoperative mitomycin-C eye drop and beta radiation in the treatment of pterygia.

One hundred and forty-seven eyes (137 patients) with primary pterygia were treated with excision with additional therapy, and were followed up for three months to six years after treatment. Of 85 eyes that underwent excision and postoperative instillation of 0.02 per cent mitomycin-C, there were three which had corneal recurrence (3.5%) and four had conjunctival recurrence (4.7%). The other 62 eyes were treated with beta radiation, there were nine with corneal recurrence (14.5%) and three had conjunctival recurrence (4.8%). Adjunctive therapy with mitomycin-c eye drop reduced the recurrence rate significantly (P less than 0.1). Complications occurred in five eyes (6%) by using mitomycin-c eye drop which included allergic reaction, granulation mass and mild scleral necrosis. Two of 62 eyes (3%) treated with beta radiation had complications of granulation mass. We found that pterygium excision with mitomycin-c eye drop to be effective in prevention of recurrent pterygium.