Recurrence in primary pterygium excision with amniotic membrane grafts

ABSTRACT

Recurrence in primary pterygium excision with amniotic membrane grafts were studied. Patients presenting to the outpatients clinic of ophthalmology department in Khyber teaching hospital with primary pterygium were included in this study. 22 [41%] cases were treated as inpatients and 32 cases [59%] as outpatient. They were all having primary pterygium. Cases were randomly selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria and details were recorded on a pre developed proforma. All patients underwent surgical excision of the pterygium. The pterygia were excised to bare sclera and the conjunctival defects closed with amniotic membrane grafts using 10/0 nylon suture. Each patient was followed for a period of six months. The primary outcome was to measure pterygium recurrence. The recurrence is defined as the 2mm or more regrowth of the fibro vascular tissue over the cornea. Out of the 54 cases by six months post op four [7.40%] developed corneal recurrence. No association was found between pterygium recurrence and pterygium size, amniotic membrane graft dimension, patient age or patient sex. The amniotic membrane is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of primary pterygium. Absorbing excessive stem and progenitor cells may be one of the mechanisms of reducing the recurrence rate using amniotic membrane