Evaluation of corneal and anterior chamber changes following pterygium surgery using a Pentacam Scheimplug system: a prospective study.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pterygium surgery on the corneal topography and anterior chamber parameters using a Pentacam system.

METHODS

Prospective clinical study. Scheimpflug camera was performed in 21 eyes of 21 patients with primary pterygium, both before and 2 months after pterygium excision using conjunctival autograft technique. The topographic parameters such as total mean refractive power, index of surface variance, aberration coefficent, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle were evaluated. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes were also noted. Differences between preoperative and postoperative values were compared.

RESULTS

The mean refractive power was 42.59 ± 3.44 dioptry (D) preoperatively and 43.72 ± 2.07 D postoperatively (p = 0.154). The mean preoperative index of surface variance was 72.24 ± 48.72. It was decreased to 32 ± 23.13 after surgery (p = 0.003). The mean aberration coefficent was 3.04 ± 1.27 preoperatively. It was decreased to 2.4 ± 1.06 postoperatively (p = 0.017). The preoperative and postoperative values of the mean anterior chamber depth were 2.91 ± 0.49 mm and 2.91 ± 0.52 mm, respectively (p = 0.638). The mean preoperative anterior chamber angle was 33.13 ± 6.89°. It was measured as 32.77 ± 4.86° postoperatively (p = 0.779). The mean overall preoperative BCVA was logMar 0.13 ± 0.29. It was significantly improved to logMar 0.0238 ± 0.07 after pterygium surgery (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal topographic changes induced by pterygium are almost reversible after surgical treatment of the pterygium. Pterygium surgery significantly improves the BCVA, and decreases the aberration coefficient and index of surface variance; however, it does not have any effect on the anterior chamber parameters.