Treatment of pterygia in Queensland

All practising ophthalmologists in Queensland completed a written survey on their current methods of treatment of pterygia. The indications for surgical removal, in decreasing order of importance, were mainly size, symptomatic complaints, cosmetic appearance and activity. Most surgeons graded pterygia into a variety of classifications. The most common form of treatment for primary pterygia was simple excision plus mobilisation of conjunctiva and suturing conjunctival free edges together followed by bare sclera technique, and simple excision plus thiotepa drops. For recurrent pterygia simple excision plus beta-irradiation was the most common form of treatment, followed by simple excision plus thiotepa drops and simple excision plus mobilisation of conjunctiva and suturing conjunctival free edges together. A third of the ophthalmologists electively avoid cautery use during pterygium surgery, while almost a quarter of the ophthalmologists attempt to polish the corneal and limbal region. When beta-radiation or Thiotepa is used there is a general consensus on the dosage for each of these. Seventeen per cent of ophthalmologists said they had not encountered any complications after pterygium surgery with the remainder quoting corneoscleral necrosis from beta-radiation and Tenon's granuloma as the most common complications. It would appear that there is no consensus on the best way to treat pterygia in Queensland, which probably reflects the lack of scientific proof for one method being superior to another.