title: Determining Factors for Fast Corneal Sensitivity Recovery After Pterygium Excision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish determining factors for fast corneal sensitivity (CS) recovery after pterygium excision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two eyes of 14 males and 18 females with primary nasal pterygium were recruited. Differences in CS (in the 4 quadrants and the center using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer), pterygium corneal area (PCA), tear osmolarity, tear break-up time, Schirmer test, and ocular symptoms were analyzed before and 1 month after lesion excision. The relationship between CS recovery (difference between the 2 time points; CS1 - CS0) and the other features was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the studied locations exhibited normal (6 cm) or near-normal mean CS at the 2 time points, except a tendency for moderate hypoesthesia in nasal CS0 (median 4.5; range: 1.5-6.0 cm). Point by point comparison revealed significant postoperative improvements in nasal location (P = 0.008; Wilcoxon signed-rank test) with normal values in 17 eyes (53%) and a median CS1 = 5.0 cm (2.5-5.5 cm) in 15 eyes with no complete recovery. No significant correlation was found between CS0 and the studied variables, and CS1 was only significantly correlated with PCA (rho: -0.441; P < 0.05). CS recovery also showed significant correlation with PCA (rho = -0.516; P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CS recovery after pterygium excision showed important variability, and the only studied factor that seems to be determinant could be PCA. It would be advisable to operate when the lesion is relatively small, with lower surgical injury and faster and complete recovery, thus protecting ocular surface homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: *Ocular Surface Research Group, Optics and Optometry Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain; and†Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Terrassa, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Terrassa, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Julio
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Aitana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munguia
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mas-Aixala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry