Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The British Journal of Ophthalmology logoLink to The British Journal of Ophthalmology
. 1995 Mar;79(3):233–236. doi: 10.1136/bjo.79.3.233

Results of treatment with topical mitomycin C 0.02% following excision of primary pterygium.

R Rachmiel 1, H Leiba 1, S Levartovsky 1
PMCID: PMC505069  PMID: 7703200

Abstract

AIMS--The effectiveness of instillation of mitomycin C eyedrops on the recurrence rate of pterygium was assessed in patients undergoing primary pterygium surgery. Any side effects were also noted. METHODS--Primary pterygia in 38 consecutive patients were surgically excised during July to December 1992. After surgery, mitomycin C 0.02% eyedrops twice daily for 5 days as well as dexamethasone 0.1% four times tapered for the next 6 weeks were instilled. Postoperative follow up ranged from 6 to 11 months. RESULTS--In one patient the pterygium recurred after 3 months (recurrence rate 2.6%). The side effects encountered were: avascularised sclera in 13 cases between 1-10 months postoperatively; ocular discomfort and lacrimation in five cases; superficial punctate keratitis during the first month in three cases; pyogenic granuloma in two cases. In one patient steroid induced increased intraocular pressure was found 4 weeks after surgery. The adverse side effects were all mild, self limiting, and easily treated. CONCLUSION--This study suggests that postoperative instillation of mitomycin C 0.02% eyedrops twice daily for 5 days following excision of primary pterygium is an effective and safe treatment to obviate pterygium recurrence.

Full text

PDF
233

Images in this article

234Image
on p.234
234Image
on p.234
234Image
on p.234

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Chayakul V. Prevention of recurrent pterygium by mitomycin-C. Fortschr Ophthalmol. 1987;84(5):422–424. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Derick R. J., Pasquale L., Quigley H. A., Jampel H. Potential toxicity of mitomycin C. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991 Dec;109(12):1635–1635. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1991.01080120013002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dunn J. P., Seamone C. D., Ostler H. B., Nickel B. L., Beallo A. Development of scleral ulceration and calcification after pterygium excision and mitomycin therapy. Am J Ophthalmol. 1991 Sep 15;112(3):343–344. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)76738-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Frucht-Pery J., Ilsar M. The use of low-dose mitomycin C for prevention of recurrent pterygium. Ophthalmology. 1994 Apr;101(4):759–762. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(94)31269-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hayasaka S., Noda S., Yamamoto Y., Setogawa T. Postoperative instillation of low-dose mitomycin C in the treatment of primary pterygium. Am J Ophthalmol. 1988 Dec 15;106(6):715–718. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(88)90706-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hayasaka S., Noda S., Yamamoto Y., Setogawa T. Postoperative instillation of mitomycin C in the treatment of recurrent pterygium. Ophthalmic Surg. 1989 Aug;20(8):580–583. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Jaros P. A., DeLuise V. P. Pingueculae and pterygia. Surv Ophthalmol. 1988 Jul-Aug;33(1):41–49. doi: 10.1016/0039-6257(88)90071-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lee D. A., Lee T. C., Cortes A. E., Kitada S. Effects of mithramycin, mitomycin, daunorubicin, and bleomycin on human subconjunctival fibroblast attachment and proliferation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1990 Oct;31(10):2136–2144. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Rubinfeld R. S., Pfister R. R., Stein R. M., Foster C. S., Martin N. F., Stoleru S., Talley A. R., Speaker M. G. Serious complications of topical mitomycin-C after pterygium surgery. Ophthalmology. 1992 Nov;99(11):1647–1654. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31749-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Singh G. Postoperative instillation of low-dose mitomycin C in the treatment of primary pterygium. Am J Ophthalmol. 1989 May 15;107(5):570–571. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(89)90523-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Singh G., Wilson M. R., Foster C. S. Long-term follow-up study of mitomycin eye drops as adjunctive treatment of pterygia and its comparison with conjunctival autograft transplantation. Cornea. 1990 Oct;9(4):331–334. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Singh G., Wilson M. R., Foster C. S. Mitomycin eye drops as treatment for pterygium. Ophthalmology. 1988 Jun;95(6):813–821. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(88)33104-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Yamamoto T., Varani J., Soong H. K., Lichter P. R. Effects of 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C on cultured rabbit subconjunctival fibroblasts. Ophthalmology. 1990 Sep;97(9):1204–1210. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(90)32456-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Ophthalmology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES