LIDPTER Trial
The use of lidocain gel versus subconjunctival xylocaine injection in pterygium excision.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Karolien Termote
A pterygium can be described as a membrane that grows over the cornea, which is the most superficial part of the eye. A pterygium can cause a multitude of symptoms. The most common complaints are redness, dryness and irritation. In more advanced cases vision may also be impaired, for example, if the pterygium continues to grow toward the center of the cornea and thereby interferes with vision.
If a pterygium is experienced as a nuisance in a patient's daily life, we suggest surgery to remove it. Such an operation is called a pterygium excision. During the procedure, the pterygium is removed and the wound is the covered with a graft. This graft is excised from the conjunctiva of the same eye. The surgery takes in total about 20 minutes.
Aim of the study
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia when removing a pterygium. We do this by injecting the conjunctiva with an anesthetic called lidocaine. This method of anesthesia may cause pain symptoms. Therefore, we suggest an alternative way to anesthetize the eye: a lidocaine gel. Because in this case we do not have to use a needle to numb the eye, we believe this is more pleasant for the patient. The aim of our study is to compare lidocaine gel on the one side and xylocaine injection on the other in terms of pain, dryness and irritation during and after surgery.