Safety, efficacy and success with supero-temporal free conjunctivo-limbal autograft in the surgical management of pterygium: Our technique and results

ABSTRACT

The objective was to study the safety, efficacy and success with supero-temporal free conjunctivo-limbal autograft transplantation in the surgical management of pterygium. Prospective case series where superotemporal free conjunctivo-limbal auto grafting was performed on 24 eyes of 24 patients with vascular progressive pterygium. Pterygium recurrence was considered a surgical failure. Recurrence was defined as fibrovascular tissue crossing the corneoscleral limbus on to the clear cornea in the area of previous pterygium excision. recurrence of pterygium was noted in one out of 24 eyes [4.16%], after a minimum follow up of 6 months to maximum of 25 months [mean 14.6 months]. No major intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered. In conclusion, superotemporal free conjunctivo-limbal autograft appears to be a safe and effective technique in the surgical management pterygium. The inclusion of limbal tissue in the conjunctival autograft following pterygium excision appears to be essential to ensure low recurrence rate