Comparison of the efficacy of pterygium resection combined with conjunctival autograft versus pterygium resection combined with amniotic membrane transplantation.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of pterygium resection combined with conjunctival autograft versus pterygium resection combined with amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of pterygium. METHODS: A total of 118 cases (133 eyes) were randomly assigned to receive pterygium resection combined with conjunctival autograft (n=81) or pterygium resection combined with amniotic membrane transplantation (n=52). Corneal wound healing and neovascularization and the presence or absence of conjunctival proliferation and hyperemia were analyzed at 12 months post-operatively. RESULTS: In the conjunctival autograft group, 6 eyes (7.4%) had recurrent pterygium, while in the amniotic membrane transplantation group, 10 eyes showed recurrence (19.2%, P<0.05, chi-square). Patients in the conjunctival autograft group recovered significantly faster compared with those in the amniotic membrane transplantation group. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving pterygium surgery combined with conjunctival autograft had lower recurrence rates and experience faster recovery compared with those undergoing pterygium resection combined with amniotic membrane transplantation.