Excision and cauterization of pterygium-a case series study

Aim: To review the different methods for treatment of pterygium.Methods: A case series study conducted at private and out patients clinic of Al Jamhoury teaching hospital in Mosul, during the period from Jan.2006-Jun.2007. Thirty-eight patients with 54 eye lesions of pterygium were included in the study. They were treated under local anesthesia by simple surgical excision with cauterization of the conjunctival edges to sclera by simple cautery or by wet bipolar cautery. Results: seven cases of recurrence were recorded in this study after 4-12 months of follow up postoperatively, in the age group before 45 years. No significant preoperative or postoperative complications were recorded with the exception of persistence of some cauterization marks on the sclera, Conclusion: The surgical excision of pterygium and cauterization of the conjunctival edges to the sclera appear to be a simple, safe and successful method.