Farrell P L, Smith R E
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
Am J Ophthalmol. 1989 May 15;107(5):515-7. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(89)90496-0.
Pterygium excision was complicated by bacterial corneoscleritis and endophthalmitis in two patients, one who had received postoperative beta irradiation and the other topical thiotepa. These complications followed surgery by two and six weeks. Causative organisms were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Despite aggressive therapy, visual outcome was poor in both cases. These cases demonstrate that, although infrequent, complications of pterygium excision can be destructive and visually disabling.