Effect of Fluorometholone/tetrahydrozoline Fixed Combination on Conjunctival Autograft Morphology After Primary Pterygium Excision

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.