Evaluation of the Effect of Pterygium on Phacoemulsifi cation Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the effect of phacoemulsifi cation surgery on cornea in eyes with pterygium, with operatedpterygium and without pterygium.Material and Methods:This study included 60 eyes of 60 patients who were followed-up between 2010 November and 2016 September atNamik Kemal University Research Hospital. Mean age of the patients was 67 (50-74) years. Twenty-nine of patients were male 31 of patientswere female. Groups consisted 20 patients who had cataract without pterygium, 20 patients with cataract and pterygium and 20 patients withcataract and operated pterygium. All of the patients had grade 4 or 5 nuclear cataracts according to Lens Opacity Classifi cation System III(LOCS III). Mean follow up time, central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), ultrasound time, phaco time, used totalbalanced salt solution, percentage total equivelant power in position 3 (%TEPiP3) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded.Results: Each group included 20 patients (20 eyes). Three months postoperatively, the mean BCVA for all groups was 0.013 logMAR or betterand the mean CCT returned to the preoperative levels for with-pterygium, operated pterygium and without pterygium group (P=.730, P=.703and P=.648, respectively). At postoperative 3 month, endothelial cell loss of the patients with pterygium was signifi cantly higher than othertwo groups (P=0.03).Conclusion: The eyes with pterygium are more susceptible to the corneal parameter changes caused by cataract surgery compared to eyeswith no pterygium or the ones with history of pterygium surgery.Planning a pterygium surgery prior to cataract surgery might decrease thepostoperative corneal problems.