Incidence of refractive surprise after phacoemulsification in patients of cataract with primary pterygium

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to find the incidence of refractive surprise in patients of cataract with primary pterygium and compare it with patients of cataract without pterygium after phacoemulsification surgery. METHODS: The present observational study included 30 patients who had cataract with pterygium and 30 patients of cataract without pterygium. A detailed ophthalmic examination was done in all the cases. Horizontal corneal encroachment of pterygium from the limbus was measured. Keratometry and biometric measurements were performed preoperatively to determine the target refraction which was kept between − 0.50D and + 0.50D. The achieved spherical equivalent (SE) and prediction error were calculated postoperatively. A difference of >± 1.00D SE from the targeted postoperative refraction was considered a refractive surprise. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 61 ± 8.32 years. The mean extension of pterygium on the cornea was 2.3 ± 0.91 mm. Refractive surprise was seen in 16.7% of cases of cataract with pterygium and 10% of cases of cataract without pterygium. CONCLUSION: Only cataract surgery can be performed in patient having cataract with primary pterygium of up to 2.3 ± 0.91 mm horizontal corneal length, and the incidence of refractive surprise in these cases is comparable to that in patients of cataract without pterygium.