AIM: To investigate the early effects of 3g/L sodium hyaluronate eye drops combined with soft contact lenses on corneal epithelial healing and local comfort.

METHODS: Totally 90 patients(90 eyes)with primary monocular pterygium were randomly divided into three groups after pterygium excision surgeries(n=30, for each). Each group received pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell autograft transplantation. The research group wore soft corneal contact lens for 7d after the surgery, and the next day all of them were given 3g/L sodium hyaluronate and levofloxacin eye drops four times a day, tobrmycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment once every night. The Group B did not wear the corneal contact lens, they were given levofloxacin eye drops four times a day and tobrmycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment once every night. About the Group C, the 3g/L sodium hyaluronate eye drops was added on the basis of conventional medication of Group B. The time of corneal epithelial healing after surgery and the ocular pain score in different times were observed and contrasted.

RESULTS: Mean pain score of Group A were significantly lower than Group B and C at 6h, the first day and the third day after operation(P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the three groups at the fifth day and the seventh day(P>0.05). The first day after the surgery, there were no eyes of corneal epithelium completely healed, but the complete healing rate of Group A were significantly higher than the other two group at the second day and the third day.(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Early use of 3g/L hyaluronate sodium eye drops combined with soft corneal contact lenses after pterygium excision surgeries will not only accelerate corneal epithelial wound healing, but also relieve local pain, improve ocular comfort significantly.