Manifestations of ocular irritation after pterygium surgery with sutured conjunctival autograft

Background: Ocular irritation remains the main disadvantage of the sutured conjunctival graft after pterygium excision. Evaluation of the severity of these manifestations can be helpful for better patient counselling about the expected postoperative course.Aim: To evaluate the manifestations of ocular irritation in patients treated by pterygium excision with sutured conjunctival autograft.Setting: A prospective interventional case series that evaluated the postoperative manifestations of ocular irritation in pterygium patients.Methods: Twenty-five pterygium patients were treated by pterygium excision with vicryl 8/0 sutured conjunctival autograft. The severity of postoperative foreign body sensation, pain, watering, and localised hyperemia involving the nasal conjunctival quadrant were evaluated, scored, and graded.Results: The main reported symptom was foreign body sensation, with a mean grade of 1.9 ± 0.54 recorded 3 to 4 days postoperatively, which declined one week postoperatively to a mean of 1 ± 0.45. Mild to moderate tolerable symptoms were reported in 92% at the first postoperative visit with an average score of 5 ± 1.05, which declined to an average of 1.4 ± 0.52 at one week, with all the patients reporting minimal symptoms. At the end of the follow-up, the mean index of localised nasal conjunctival hyperaemia was 2.5 ± 0.39. Recurrence was recorded in one patient (4%). No other complications were encountered.Conclusion: Sutured conjunctival autograft can be used safely with tolerable short-term minimal to moderate manifestations of ocular irritation with no significant complications.