Study of Visual Outcome after Excision and Conjuctival Grafting as a Primary Procedure

Study conducted between Nov.2005- sept.2007 included 55eyes of 50 patents. The incidence among age sex distribution and visual out come attending the opd Regional Eye Hospital Kurnool. The patients were examined under slitlamp biomicroscope, investigated for Diabetes mellitus, hypertention, lacrimal drainage syringing, preoperative and post operatiave visual acuity using Snellens chart, for astigmatism using keratometer. follow up done 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year period. Majority of the patients (62 %) were between the ages of 31 to 50 years.8 patients presented before this age and 4 of them had associated dry eye. Occupations of most of the males invoived prolonged exposure to sunlight and dust (farmers. Fishermen, labourers) Most women were housewives. Of the 50 patients included in the study 28 were males (56 %) and 22 were females (44 %). Significant visual acuity improvement (2 Snellens line or more) was seen in 21 eyes (38.2 %) while 1 line improvement was seen in 19 eyes (34.54 %) The average pre-operative astigmatism was 1.93D while the average post-operative astigmatism was 1.36D there was a 0.57D (29.53 %) reduction in pterygium induced astigmatism. The percentage of reduction was greater for Group B and Group C pterygiums (49.62 % & 42.27 %) The average degree of astigmatism is comparable to the values in studies 61 2eyes of Group C did not show any improvement in visual acuity even after reduction in visual acuity even after reduction in astigmatism due to the formation of macular grade corneal opacity following the pterygium excision.