AIM: To explore the safety and efficacy of hydrophilic soft contact lenses in pterygium surgery.

METHODS: A total of 86 eyes(86 patients)with a diagnosis of pterygium and received pterygium excision combined with conjunctival autograft transplantation were enrolled between May 2011 and Jun. 2013 at People's Hospital of Nanjing Gaochun. The pterygium grown onto the corner about 2.5mm-7.0mm each patient. They were divided into two groups according to operation time: hydrophilic soft contact lenses group and control group. There were 43 eyes(43 patients)in each group. Patients in hydrophilic soft contact lens group wore hydrophilic soft contact lens without gauze after surgery for 3d. And they were bandaging with gauze in control group. The degree of pain after surgery were evaluated at 2h, 6h, 8h, 12h, 24h, 48h and 72h after surgery.

RESULTS: The difference of age, sex and pterygium size were statistically significant between two groups. The pain index scores at 2h, 6h, 8h, 24h, 48h and 72h after surgery were as follows: Hydrophilic soft contact lenses group were 0.80±0.41 scores, 0.89±0.52 scores, 0.42±0.49scores, 0.28±0.45 scores, 0.30±0.43 scores, and 0.25±0.35 scores; control group were 2.56±0.52 scores, 2.57±0.25 scores, 1.85±0.67 scores, 1.44±0.50 scores, 1.42±0.52scores and 0.85±0.53 scores. The pain index scores of the hydrophilic soft contact lens group were significantly less than control group(P<0.01). The corneal epithelial fluorescein staining scores was 0.89±1.12 scores of hydrophilic soft contact lenses group, 1.58±1.35 scores in control group(P=0.140). There was no significant difference between the two groups. The cornel epithelial defect areas were 0.18±0.46mm² in hydrophilic soft contact lens group, significantly less than control group(2.69±4.34mm²)(P=0.048). There were no infection, relapse and implant healing badness during the followed up from 3 to 12mo(4.5±1.25mo). Subconjunctival cyst was observed in 2 patients(2 eyes)during the follow-up times, and they were excised by surface anesthetic.

CONCLUSION: Hydrophilic soft contact lens was an efficacious and safe treatment. It can significantly release pain response after pterygium excision and promote the healing of the corneal epitheliums.