Table 2. Comparison between the thermosensitive (study group 1) and silicone plug (study group 2) as regards grading of corneal fluorescein staining pre and post plug insertion along the period of follow up.
| Corneal fluorescein staining | Group 1 | Group 2 | P |
| Baseline (pre-plug insertion) | |||
| Grade 1 | 14.0 (31.1) | 14.0 (31.1) | 1.0 (NS) |
| Grade 2 | 21.0 (46.7) | 21.0 (46.7) | 1.0 (NS) |
| Grade 3 | 10.0 (22.2) | 10.0 (22.2) | 1.0 (NS) |
| 1mo post-insertion | |||
| Grade 1 | 14.0 (31.1) | 20.0 (44.4) | 0.01 (SS) |
| Grade 2 | 21.0 (46.7) | 15.0 (33.3) | 0.02 (SS) |
| Grade 3 | 10.0 (22.2) | 10.0 (22.2) | 1.0 (NS) |
| 3mo post-insertion | |||
| Grade 0 | 11.0 (24.4) | 3.0 (7.7) | <0.001 (SS) |
| Grade 1 | 4.0 (8.9) | 5.0 (12.8) | <0.001 (SS) |
| Grade 2 | 20.0 (44.5) | 21.0 (53.8) | 0.45 (NS) |
| Grade 3 | 10.0 (22.2) | 10.0 (25.7) | 0.01 (SS) |
| 6mo post-insertion | |||
| Grade 0 | 35.0 (77.8) | 6.0 (25.0) | <0.001 (SS) |
| Grade 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 (4.2) | <0.001 (SS) |
| Grade 2 | 0.0 | 9.0 (37.5) | <0.001 (SS) |
| Grade 3 | 10.0 (22.2) | 8.0 (33.3) | <0.001 (SS) |
NS: Statistically non significant; SS: Statistically significant.
n (%)