Preoperative injection of mitomycin C in combined pterygium and cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a preoperative injection of mitomycin C (MMC) in combined pterygium and cataract surgery. METHODS: This was a prospective, nonrandomized, interventional trial. Thirty-nine patients with cataract and pterygium enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized trial. All patients underwent combined pterygium and cataract surgery. Twenty-seven received a single 0.1-mL injection of 0.15 mg/mL MMC into the pterygium head 4 weeks before surgery and 12 did not. Patients were followed for 12 to 23 months postoperatively. Recurrence of pterygium, side effects, and complications of MMC were recorded. RESULTS: Recurrent pterygium developed in none of the patients treated with MMC preoperatively and in 5 of the nontreated patients. Two patients in the pretreated group had allergic conjunctivitis immediately after MMC injection. No other local eye complications or adverse systemic reactions were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative injection of MMC into the head of the pterygium 4 weeks prior to combined pterygium and cataract surgery resulted in no recurrence and no serious complications up to 12 to 23 months of follow-up postoperatively. This procedure may be recommended to save time and cost and to prevent the possible side effects of MMC when administered topically at the time of cataract surgery. Further follow-up and additional studies will be needed to determine the long-term safety and efficacy.