Pterygium recurrence rate at the Princess Alexandra Hospital

Over two separate time periods, 136 consecutive pterygium operations in 103 patients were performed at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. These patients were evaluated for recurrence of their pterygia in a retrospective study by chart review and re-examination. In 136 eyes there was an overall recurrence rate of 46% using a number of therapies. This study highlights the relatively unsatisfactory result of pterygium removal in a day surgery and eye outpatient department surgical setting by a number of trainee ophthalmologists, and stresses the need for a reassessment of pterygium and its treatment.