Comparative evaluation of keratometric changes after pterygium excision surgery

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare keratometric changes after pterygium excision surgery. Settings and Design: The study was carried out at a tertiary eye care center in central Rajasthan, India. Materials and Methods: Total 50 patients of primary pterygium without any other corneal pathology were undergone to pterygium excision surgery with conjunctival autograft and selected for study after complete preoperative assessment. Keratometric values were measured using Bausch-Lomb keratometer preoperatively and postoperatively on day 1, day 7, and 1 month serially. Mean difference in keratometric values or mean keratometric astigmatic changes preoperatively and postoperatively were compared. Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.58 ± 9.67 years and male-to-female ratio was 2.12:1. The mean preoperative keratometric values were significantly decreased postoperatively in all grades of pterygium. Moreover, the amount of keratometric astigmatism varies with the grades of pterygium. In patients with pterygium Grade I, mean keratometric (K) value was reduced to 0.66 ± 0.30 diopter (D) at 1 month postoperatively. Similarly, in patients with pterygium Grade II, it was reduced to 0.71 ± 0.32D, and in pterygium Grade III and IV, it was reduced to 1.82 ± 0.27D and 2.72 ± 0.53 D, respectively at 1-month follow-up visit. Conclusion: The pterygium excision surgery significantly causes reduction in pterygium-induced keratometric astigmatism. Moreover, the differences in the K-reading are proportional to the grades of pterygium.