The Safety of Office-Based Pterygium Surgery
Sandra Lora Cremers1, Adam G Hidad2, Jenny Ha3
1From the Visionary Eye Doctors in Rockville (S.L.C, J.A.M.), Maryland, USA; Johns Hopkins Medicine (S.L.C.), Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|February 12, 2025
Summary
Office-based pterygium surgery is safe and cost-effective, with low recurrence rates and high patient satisfaction. This study evaluated the safety and outcomes of 1071 office-based pterygiectomies.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Ophthalmic Surgery
- Ocular Surface Disease
Background:
- Ophthalmologic surgical procedures are increasingly performed in outpatient settings.
- Pterygium surgery is a common ocular surface procedure worldwide.
- The safety of office-based pterygiectomy has not been previously evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety, complication rates, cost-effectiveness, and cosmetic satisfaction of pterygiectomy performed in an office-based setting.
- To compare the costs of office-based pterygiectomy with those in traditional surgical centers and hospitals.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series of 1071 office-based pterygiectomies performed between 2013 and 2016.
- Procedures were conducted under topical anesthesia and oral sedation.
- Data included complications, recurrence rates, patient-reported pain, cosmetic satisfaction, and costs.
Main Results:
- One-year complication rates included recurrence (2.04%), dellen (3.05%), granuloma (3.82%), and ptosis (2.6%). No infections occurred.
- Patient-reported pain was minimal (VAS < 1.0), and cosmetic satisfaction exceeded 88% at 1 year.
- Office-based pterygiectomy cost $1795, significantly less than surgical centers ($3812.50) or hospitals ($5562).
Conclusions:
- Office-based pterygiectomy is a safe and effective procedure.
- It offers significant cost savings compared to traditional surgical settings.
- High patient satisfaction and low recurrence rates support its use.
