AIM: To assess the effect of bandage contact lens on the corneal epithelium healing condition, degree of pain and corneal surface after recurrent pterygium excision.

METHODS: Retrospective case-series study. A total of 64 patients(64 eyes)with recurrent pterygium who received treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University from September 2015 to September 2017 were divided into Group A(34 cases with bandage contact lens group)and Group B(30 cases without bandage contact lens group). The healing status of corneal epithelium was evaluated by fluorescent staining between the two groups at 1d and 1wk after surgery. The degree of pain was assessed between the two groups at 2h, 1d and 1wk after recurrent pterygium excision by visual analogue score. Computerized corneal topography was performed on all cases with recurrent pterygium before and 1mo after successful excision surgery. Statistical analysis of surface regularity index(SRI), surface asymmetry index(SAI)and corneal astigmatism(CA), was done before and 1mo after surgery.

RESULTS: Average scores of corneal epithelium healing condition at 1d and 1wk were better in Group A than that in Group B(P<0.01). The mean scores of pain values at 2h, 1d and 1wk after surgery in Group A were significantly lower than that in Group B respectively(P<0.01). The indicators reflecting corneal surface at 1mo after surgery, including SRI, SAI, CA, were significantly lower in Group A than that in Group B(P<0.01), while they were not significantly different before surgery between the two groups(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Bandage contact lenses could significantly promote the healing status of corneal epithelium, release pain response and improve corneal refractive status after recurrent pterygium excision.