Effect of pterygium surgery on tear osmolarity.

Purpose.
To investigate changes of dry eye test results in patients who underwent pterygium surgery.

Methods.
Seventy-four patients who underwent primary pterygium surgery were enrolled in this study. At the baseline, 3-, 12-, and 18-month visits, measurements of tear osmolarity, BUT, and Schirmer test were performed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium did not recur, and Group 2, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium recurred after surgery.

Results.
The patients in Group 1 had lower tear osmolarity levels after surgery than those at baseline (all P < 0.001). In Group 2 the tear osmolarity levels did not differ from baseline after 18 months (P = 0.057). The prevalence rates of dry eye syndrome (DES) were lower than that at baseline and 18 months after surgery in Group 1 (P = 0.002). In Group 2, the incidence of DES was lower after 3 months than at baseline (P = 0.03) but was similar to the baseline rate after 12 and 18 months (both P > 0.05).

Conclusions.
Anormal tear film function associated with pterygium. Pterygium excision improved tear osmolarity and tear film function. However, tear osmolarity deteriorated again with the recurrence of pterygium.
J Ophthalmol. 2013;2013:863498. doi: 10.1155/2013/863498. Epub 2013 Jan 20.
Türkyılmaz K, Oner V, Sevim MŞ, Kurt A, Sekeryapan B, Durmuş M.
Source
Department of Ophthalmology, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Medical School, 53100 Rize, Turkey.