A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF VISUAL ACUITY AND ASTIGMATIC CHANGES AFTER PTERYGIUM EXCISION WITH LIMBAL STEM CELL GRAFTING

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess if there is any signicant reduction in astigmatism and thus improvement in visual acuity after pterygium excision with limbal stem cell grafting. Methods: In this prospective study, patients with primary pterygium were included. Preoperative and postoperative corneal astigmatism, refractive astigmatism and visual acuity were analyzed. All patients underwent pterygium excision with limbal stem cell grafting. Results: Mean improvement in visual acuity of 0.09 log MAR units was observed (p <0.0001, statistically signicant).Mean corneal astigmatism for grade I, II and III was found to be 1.03 ± 0.68D, 1.69 ± 0.80D and 2.90 ± 1.06D respectively. Mean corneal astigmatism decreased by 1.29 D (p <0.0001, statistically signicant).A decrease of 0.77D in cylindrical power required was found after surgery (p <0.0001, statistically signicant). Conclusions: there is a signicant reduction in pterygium induced astigmatism and improvement in visual acuity on surgical removal of the pterygium.