SUTURELESS GLUELESS PTERYGIUM SURGERY: A CASE SERIES

Dr. Neha Thakur and *Dr. Pranidhi Sharda

ABSTRACT

Pterygium is a fibrovascular growth of an abnormal conjunctival tissue that progressively encroaches the limbus and then onto the cornea invading its superficial layers. It is a common ophthalmic condition seen mostly in dry, dusty areas. Pterygium occurs predominantly on the nasal limbus, although temporal pterygium rarely occurs in isolation. UV light may produce damage to the cellular DNA, RNA, and extracellular matrix and may induce expression of cytokines and growth factors important in the development of pterygium.[1] The active processes include inflammation, tissue invasion and degradation, angiogenesis, fibrosis, proliferation and apoptosis with involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cytokines, and growth factors (GFs). The presence of an inflammatory mass on the ocular surface may predispose the patient to a “pseudo-dry eye syndrome”.[2] Multiple methods have been describes for pterygium removal including bare sclera technique, sutured conjunctival grafting, conjunctival grafting using glue and sutureless and glueless grafting. Conjunctival autografting after pterygium excision seems to be the best method, giving both long-term safety and effectiveness in reducing the recurrence rate (2% – 39%).[3] We present a case series of patients with the glueless and sutureless pterygium surgery technique.

Keywords: Pterygium, glueless and sutureless pterygium.