This is a randomized controlled trial of postoperative bevacizumab or 5-fluorouracil subconjunctival injections vs placebo for the recurrence of pterygia after excision using conjunctival autograft.
Patients will be randomized at enrollment to one of three arms: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) 5mg/0.1mL, bevacizumab 2.5mg/0.1mL, or placebo. The placebo will be sterile, preservative-free injectable 0.9% normal saline. All patients will undergo pterygium excision surgery in the minor procedure room using a standardized surgical technique with conjunctival autograft. All patients will have a standardized postoperative drop protocol of neomycin/polymyxin/dexamethasone ointment four times daily for 2 weeks and fluorometholone drops 4 times daily for 2 weeks, three times daily for 2 weeks, twice daily for 2 weeks, once daily for 2 weeks then stopping. At the 1-month and 2-month postoperative visits, patients will receive a subconjunctival injection based on their randomization assignment (5-FU, bevacizumab or placebo) in the area of the excised pterygium at least 1 mm posterior to the limbus. The total injected volume will be 0.1mL for all adjuvants. The primary outcome will pterygium recurrence at 3 months, defined as evidence of at least 1 mm of fibrovascular growth onto the cornea. After the 3 month visit, patients who are determined to have a recurrence will be unmasked, and can received monthly 5-FU or bevacizumab injections at the discretion of the treating physician. Each of these visits will be treated as a study visit, and will be documented. All patients will have study visits at the 6 and 12 month mark. If at any point any patient develops evidence of progression of recurrence, they may undergo further monthly 5-FU or bevacizumab injections at the discretion of the treating physician.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
5-fluorouracil is an antimetabolite that is commonly used in glaucoma surgery to prevent postoperative scaring.
Bevacizumab is an anti-VEGF antibody that is commonly used to prevent or treat neovascularization in retinal disorders.
Normal saline will be used as the placebo.
Recurrence
Recurrence of fibrovascular growth greater than or equal to 1mm onto cornea in area of excised pterygium as judged from slit lamp photographs by masked graders.
Time frame: 3 months
Recurrence
Recurrence of fibrovascular growth greater than or equal to 1mm onto cornea in area of excised pterygium as judged from slit lamp photographs by masked graders.
Time frame: 6 months
Recurrence
Recurrence of fibrovascular growth greater than or equal to 1mm onto cornea in area of excised pterygium as judged from slit lamp photographs by masked graders.
Time frame: 12 months
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