Effect of fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline fixed combination on conjunctival autograft morphology after primary pterygium excision.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the effect of a fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline fixed combination on conjunctival graft morphology after primary pterygium excision.

METHODS:

The patients who underwent pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft transplantation were randomized into three groups based on postoperative medications as the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline group, fluorometholone group, and dexamethasone group. Conjunctival graft thickness was measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The conjunctival graft hyperemia was evaluated using a high definition external camera.

RESULTS:

The mean graft thickness was significantly lower in the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline group compared with fluorometholone and dexamethasone groups at 2 weeks (P = 0.002 and P = 0.012, resp.) and at 1 month after surgery (P = 0.003 and P = 0.013, resp.). The conjunctival hyperemia score was significantly lower in the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline group compared with fluorometholone and dexamethasone groups at 2 weeks (P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, resp.) and at 1 month (P = 0.039 and P = 0.040, resp.). The graft thickness and conjunctival hyperemia score were similar among the groups at 1 week and 3 months (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The findings of the present study revealed that treatment with the fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline fixed combination may be helpful to decrease graft edema and to achieve better cosmetic appearance at 2 weeks and 1 month after pterygium excision.

• Authors: Engin Bilge Ozgurhan, Necip Kara, Ercument Bozkurt, Baran Gencer, Alper Agca, Zeynep Alkin, Ahmet Demirok
• Journal: BioMed research international (Biomed Res Int) Vol. 2013 Pg. 481843 ( 2013) ISSN: 2314-6141 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23865053 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Imidazoles
• tetrahydrozoline
• Fluorometholone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Autografts
• Conjunctiva (drug effects, transplantation)
• Demography
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Fluorometholone (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hyperemia (drug therapy, surgery)
• Imidazoles (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Care
• Pterygium (drug therapy, surgery)
• Tomography, Optical Coherence