Clinical study of retrograding excision of pterygium with amniotic membrane transplantation

Objective To observe the effect of retrograding excision of pterygium with amniotic membrane transplantation on the prevention of pterygium relapse. Methods Conjunctival incisions were made along both sides of pterygium body. The conjunctiva was then seperated from the underlying peterygium tissue and cut at the site of pterygium body. It was further seperated from the underlying pterygium tissue toward the caruncle so that the peteygium tissue could be exposed,which was seperated from the sclera and then was excised at the sit of the plica semilunaris and seperated from the cornea retrogradingly. The exposed sclera was then covered by transplanted amniotc membrane. Results After 6-18 months of follow-up,12 eyes in 65 eyes of pterygium relapsed. Conclusion Retrograding excision of pterygium with amniotic membrane transplantation could significantly decrease the relapse of pterygium. Key words: Pterygium; Amnion; Tissue transplantation