Abstract
Purpose:
Pterygium surgery (PS) is an elective procedure with several indications, including ocular cosmesis. We are reporting the results of a prospective longitudinal study that measures subjects’ satisfaction with PS.
Methods:
Sixteen consecutive patients undergoing PS at Rutgers Doctor’s Office Center in Newark, NJ were enrolled to take one pre-operative (op) survey and two post-op surveys. The surveys included measurements of subjects’ pre-, post-, and expected post-op ocular comfort (comfort), ocular cosmesis (cosmesis), visual acuity (VA), quality of life (QOL), satisfaction with each category, and overall satisfaction. Inclusion criteria were being over 18 years old and pre-determined to undergo pterygium surgery. Exclusion criteria included having conditions that may alter perception of satisfaction, including depression. Validated scales were used for all measurements. Satisfaction scores were ranked from 1-9; 9 indicated the greatest satisfaction. Comparisons were made with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests using MATLAB version 7.12.0.635; P<0.05 was considered significant. Comparisons of pre- and post-op data are between subjects that continued with the study. Data is expressed as median (interquartile range).
Results:
Sixteen subjects were enrolled with a median age of 50 (37.25-60.25) years at the time of their PS. The most important aspect of the PS was vision for 13 (81%) subjects, cosmesis for 2 (13%) subjects, and comfort for 1 (6%) subject. Subjects expected significant improvements in their comfort (p=0.0078) and cosmesis (p=0.016), and improvement in their QOL (p=0.06). Eight subjects have provided post-op data with median follow up of 18 (7-54) days. Compared to pre-op levels, post-op comfort rose significantly (p=0.016), cosmesis rose (p=0.2), and QOL remained unchanged (p=0.9). Compared to pre-op expectations, there were smaller reported increases in post-op comfort (p=0.06) and cosmesis (p=0.1), and significantly smaller reported increases in QOL (p=0.02). Subjects reported high levels of post-op satisfaction overall (9/9 [7.5-9]) and regarding comfort (9/9 [7.5-9]), cosmesis (9/9 [5-9]), and VA (9/9 [8-9]). All eight subjects would recommend the procedure to a friend.
Conclusions:
Subjects were overwhelmingly satisfied with their PS. Reported levels of comfort and cosmesis rose after PS, but not to the degree subjects expected pre-operatively; subjects reported high levels of satisfaction with these elements regardless.