Effect of pterygium surgery on tear osmolarity

Purpose. to investigate changes of dry eye test results in patients who underwent pterygium surgery. methods. seventy-four patients who underwent primary pterygium surgery were enrolled in this study. at the baseline,3-,12-,and 18-month visits,measurements of tear osmolarity,but,and schirmer test were performed. the patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1,which consisted of patients in whom pterygium did not recur,and group 2,which consisted of patients in whom pterygium recurred after surgery. results. the patients in group 1 had lower tear osmolarity levels after surgery than those at baseline (all p<0.001). in group 2 the tear osmolarity levels did not differ from baseline after 18 months (p=0.057). the prevalence rates of dry eye syndrome (des) were lower than that at baseline and 18 months after surgery in group 1 (p=0.002). in group 2,the incidence of des was lower after 3 months than at baseline (p=0.03) but was similar to the baseline rate after 12 and 18 months (both p>0.05). conclusions. anormal tear film function associated with pterygium. pterygium excision improved tear osmolarity and tear film function. however,tear osmolarity deteriorated again with the recurrence of pterygium. © 2013 kemal türkylmaz et al.