| Optimal Time for Stabilization of Anterior Corneal Keratometry after Primary Pterygium Excision Adjusted for Horizontal Invasion Length |
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Seunghwan Kim1, Seung Hyeun Lee2, Kyoung Woo Kim1 |
1Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
2Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Gwangmyeong, Korea |
Correspondence:
Kyoung Woo Kim, Tel: 82-2-6299-1689, Fax: 82-2-825-1666,
Email: kkanssa@cau.ac.kr
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Received: 10 November 2025 • Revised: 4 December 2025 • Accepted: 12 December 2025 |
| Abstract |
Purpose
To determine the corneal stabilization timeline after pterygium excision adjusted for horizontal invasion length (HIL).
Methods
In this single-center retrospective cohort, we analyzed 88 eyes of 80 patients with nasal or temporal primary pterygium who underwent excision and perioperative evaluation with anterior segment swept-source OCT (AS SS-OCT, Anterion®). Anterior simulated mean keratometry (SimKmean; 3-mm ring) and HIL were measured on AS SS-OCT. Keratometric stabilization was assessed at postoperative cutoffs of 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with HIL as a covariate. Subgroup analysis was performed after stratifying by the median HIL (3.82 mm).
Results
Mean anterior SimKmean increased from 42.95 ± 1.79 D preoperatively to 43.73 ± 1.53 D postoperatively (P < 0.001). Preoperative HIL correlated positively with the perioperative SimKmean change (r = 0.728 and P < 0.001). While postoperative duration showed no significant unadjusted correlation with keratometric change (r = −0.133 and P = 0.218), partial correlation controlling for HIL was negative (r = −0.248 and P = 0.021), indicating diminishing change over time after severity adjustment. ANCOVA demonstrated significant stabilization at 16 weeks (P = 0.036). In the HIL ≥ 3.82 mm subgroup, SimKmean change was greater before 20 weeks than after 20 weeks (1.73 ± 1.59 D vs 0.59 ± 0.74 D; P = 0.030), whereas no significant time-point differences were found for HIL < 3.82 mm.
Conclusion
Corneal keratometric stabilization after pterygium excision depends on preoperative HIL. A minimum of 16 weeks is recommended before cataract surgery planning, with at least 20 weeks for eyes with HIL ≥ 3.82 mm. |
| Key Words:
Horizontal invasion length; Keratometry; OCT; Pterygium |
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