title: The effects of soft contact lens use on cornea and patient's recovery after autograft pterygium surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate usage of soft contact lens (SCL) on post-operative pain relief and daily, activity due to pterygium surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autograft pterygium surgery was performed to 63 eyes of 63 patients. After surgery in 30, eyes of 30 patients in group-1, SCL was placed on the cornea. In 33 patients of group-2, antibiotic, pomade was applied and tightly covered with bandage. Follow-up visits were performed on 24th and, 48th h after the surgery. Re-epithelization time and pain scores were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' 24th h pain score was 2.96 ± 0.76 in group-1, and 4.15 ± 0.75 in group-2. The mean, pain score for 48 h was 1.66 ± 0.66 in group-1, and 2.96 ± 0.68 in group-2. Patients' pain scores for, both 24th h and 48th h were lower in group-1 (p<0.01). The mean re-epithelization times in, group 1 and 2 were 48 and 56.7h, respectively. Corneal re-epithelization is improved in patients, with SCL compared to group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SCL seems effective on reducing post-operative pain and eye stinging, and may accelerate, corneal re-epithelization and maintaining daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey. Electronic address: mutluaysen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mutlu Cihan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Daglioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra Ayhan
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tuzcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ugurcan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayintap
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oksuz
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011625:Pterygium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Pain; Pterygium; Soft contact lens; Surgery