Clinical observation of pterygium excision with limbal stem cell autograft transplantation for treatment of pterygium

Objective To analyze 58 cases(98 eyes)of pterygium by operative treatment in our hospital and to explore the curative effect of pterygium excision with limbal stem cell autograft transplantation for treatment of pterygium.Methods Between March 2003 and December 2005,30 cases(45 eyes)of pterygium were cured by simple pterygium excision.Between May 2006 and May 2007,28 cases(43 eyes)of pterygium were cured by pterygium excision with limbal stem cell autograft transplantation.The general situation of recover of corneal epithelium and the recurrence of pterygiun were observed after surgery.Results All cases were followed up for 6-18 months.15 eyes recurred(recurrent rate was 33.3%)and corneal epithelium were recovered with 4-7 days(mean 5.8 days)in simple pterygium excision group.One eye recurred(recurrent rate was 2.3%)and corneal epithelium were recovered with 2-4 days(mean 2.6 days)in pterygium excision with limbal stem cell autograft transplantation group.The differences were significant between the two group(P0.05).Conclusion Pterygium excision with limbal stem cell autograft transplantation for treatment of pterygium is effectively prevent the recurrence of pterygiun and expedite the recover of corneal epithelium.It is the ideal surgical method of pterygium therapy.