What Researchers Did
Researchers reported a case of autoconjunctival graft compromise after pterygium surgery in a patient receiving long-term anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy.
What They Found
A female patient in her early eighties, receiving monthly intravitreal aflibercept for macular degeneration, underwent pterygium excision with a conjunctival autograft 9 days after her last injection. At the 2-week postoperative review, she experienced conjunctival graft dehiscence with melting of the graft and underlying sclera, which slowly resolved after cessation of aflibercept and other treatments, allowing aflibercept to restart 3 months later.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it is a case report from outside Canada.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings may not be generalizable to all patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy undergoing pterygium surgery.