Effect of recombinant epidermal growth factor on ocular surface re-epithelization following amniotic membrane transplantation in patients with pterygium excision.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on ocular surface re-epithelization and the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation in patients with pterygium. METHODS: Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed on 40 eyes of 36 patients with pterygium after removal of pterygium. All the eyes were randomly divided into 2 groups: 20 eyes received rhEGF ophthalmic solution and the other 20 drug vehicle. The healing rates of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium were observed respectively. Follow-up study lasting for 3 to 12 months was conducted in all the cases postoperatively. RESULTS: The healing rate of both the corneal and conjunctival epithelium in rhEGF-treated group (74.983+/-18.998 micrometer/h and 36.584+/-7.888 micrometer/h respectively) was significantly faster than the control (59.372+/-17.197 +/-m/h and 29.18+/-5.450 micrometer/h respectively, P<0.01 for both comparisons). Follow-up witnessed no recurrence of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: rhEGF effectively promotes the healing of ocular surface epithelium defect, and amniotic membrane transplantation is a good surgical procedure for treating pterygium.