AIM: To explore the efficacy and safety of soft contact lens(SCL)in postoperative of pterygium surgery with limbal conjunctival autograft.

METHODS: Pterygium surgery with limbal conjunctival autograft was performed to 38 eyes of 38 patients. After surgery in 19 eyes of 19 patients of group A, SCL was placed on the cornea. In 19 patients(19 eyes)of group B, antibiotic eye ointment was applied and tightly covered with bandage. Follow-up visits were performed on the 24^th and 48^th hour after the surgery. Re-epithelization time and pain scores were compared.

RESULTS: Patients' 24-h pain score was 1 point for 12 cases, 2 point for 7 and 3 point for no one in group A, and 1 point for 6,2 point for 10 and 3 point for 3 in group B. Patients' 48-h pain score was 1 point for 16 cases, 2 point for 3 and 3 point for no one in group A, and 1 point for 10,2 point for 7 and 3 point for 2 in group B. By contrast, Patients' pain scores for both 24-h and 48-h were lower in group A than in group B(P<0.05). The mean re-epithelization times in group A and B were 48±0h and 60.6±12h, respectively. The differences in the pain score and the time of corneal re-epithelization were statistically significant(t=4.43, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: SCL seems effective on reducing post-operative pain and eye stinging, and may accelerate, corneal re-epithelization and maintaining daily activities.