Intraoperative daunorubicin to prevent the recurrence of pterygium after excision

Purpose, This study examines the safety, efficacy, and complications of 0.0 2% intraoperative daunorubicin in the prevention of the recurrence of ptery gium after excision. Methods. Sixty patients with primary pterygium were in cluded in this prospective, randomized clinical study and were randomly div ided into two groups: the treatment group and the control group. Pterygium was excised under a microscope in all patients. The treatment group receive d intraoperative single application of 0.02% daunorubicin for 3 minutes, wh ereas the control group received distilled water for the same duration. Rec urrence of pterygium and postoperative complications were prime areas of in terest. Results. A recurrence rate of 6.67% was seen in the treatment group and was 33% in the control group. Chemosis of conjunctiva and delayed epit helization were the only complications noticed after a mean follow-up of 15 months. Conclusion, Initial results indicate that a single intraoperative application of 0.02% daunorubicin for 3 minutes appears to be a safe and ef fective adjunct therapy to prevent the recurrence of pterygium. However, a much larger cohort study over a considerable number of years will eventuall y demonstrate the safety.