Evaluation of the Effects of Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 2.5% Eye Drops on the Operation Time and Intraoperative Bleeding in Pterygium Surgery

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative use of phenylephrine hydrochloride 2.5% eye drops on bleeding-related complications and surgical duration in pterygium surgery.Material and Methods: Fifty patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 received phenylephrine hydrochloride 2.5% drops at 5 and 10 minutes before surgery; Group 2 did not receive the drops. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative videos and images were captured and analyzed using the ImageJ program for both groups.Results: Redness decreased from 451.33 ± 25.45 to 268.52 ± 19.23 pixels after phenylephrine instillation, a change not seen in the control group. Six minutes before autograft implantation, the hyperemic area was 268.52 ± 19.23 pixels in the phenylephrine group and 492.22 ± 21.24 pixels in the control group.The hemostatic effect of 2.5% phenylephrine eye drops lasted until 35 minutes postoperatively.Therefore, the bleeding rate decreased by 48% in Group 1, while this effect was not observed in Group 2. No significant difference in intraocular pressure was found. Group 1's mean operation time was 7.20 ± 1.12 minutes versus 12.21 ± 1.02 minutes in Group 2. Phenylephrine reduced hyperemia by 45%.Conclusion: It is thought that using 2.5% phenylephrine hydrochloride eye drops before pterygium surgery may allow for a smoother and faster operation due to its whitening effect on the surgical field.