To evaluate the effect and safety of subconjunctival bevacizumab injection immediately after primary pterygium surgery.

From October 2010 to June 2011, 54 patients (54 eyes) with primary pterygium who had received pterygium excision with the bare sclera technique were evaluated. Twenty-seven patients (27 eyes) in the bevacizumab group received a subconjunctival injection of 5 mg (0.2 ml) bevacizumab and 27 patients (27 eyes) in the control group received a subconjunctival injection of 0.2 ml balanced salt solution immediately after surgery. At the 6-month follow-up, the degree of fibrovascular tissue proliferation, the recurrence rate of pterygium and the effect of wound healing were analyzed prospectively.

One month after the surgery, the degree of fibrovascular tissue proliferation was inhibited in the bevacizumab group compared to the control group ( p = 0.028). However, 3 to 6 months after surgery, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. In addition, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the recurrence rate of pterygium and wound healing after surgery.

Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection after primary pterygium surgery inhibited the degree of fibrovascular tissue proliferation for 1 month and safe for wound healing. Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection has the potential for adjunctive therapy after pterygium surgery.