Advantages of Small Incision Pterygium (Surfer's Eye) Removal

INTERVENTION: The new surgery protocol is characterized as having a small cut on the neck of pterygium body for conjunctiva separation before the head of pterygium is taken down, removing the head of pterygium by using a forceps, and loosening the corneal epithelia by local anesthesia (1‐2 drops of Oxybuprocaine Hydrochloride Eye Drops, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan). The averaged surgical time under the new protocol was approximately 8 minutes. CONDITION: Pterygium PRIMARY OUTCOME: Shortened surgery time SECONDARY OUTCOME: Quicker corneal wound healing. The corneal healing is indicated if a fluorescent staining is negative. A larger number of subjects with healed corneal was seen in the first and second days after the surgery in subjects receiving the new surgery. reduced pain score as quantified in a 4‐point scale (0=none; 1=little; 2=some; 3=much) reported by the patients INCLUSION CRITERIA: Subjects with primary pterygium without any other ocular pathologies