To evaluate the effect of a preoperative subconjunctival injection of mitomycin C or triamcinolone in patients with recurrent pterygium.

The records of 50 eyes of 50 patients who received excision of recurrent pterygium between June 2006 and January 2007 were reviewed. The recurrence rate and postoperative fibrovascular growth were compared in the preoperative subconjunctival mitomycin C, or triamcinolone injection group and non-treated control group. Additionally, the quantitative expression level of the transforming growth factor-β1, -β2 (TGF-β1, -β2), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in excised sample of the pterygium was assessed.

There was no statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate and the relative gene expression level of growth factors in the triamcinolone group and the mitomycin group when compared with the non-treated control group. Postoperative fibrovascular proliferation was more severe in the triamcinolone group than other groups.

Subconjunctival mitomycin C or triamcinolone as adjunctive therapy before pterygium excision did not influence the recurrence rate of pterygium.