Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Primary Pterygium Surgery

PURPOSE To evaluate the outcomes of primary pterygium excision with adjunctive amniotic membrane transplantation. METHODS In an interventional case series, consecutive patients with primary pterygia underwent surgical excision with transplantation of preserved amniotic membrane onto bare sclera. Patients were followed for at least 12 months and the results were evaluated in terms of recurrent pterygium growth and complications. RESULTS Fifty eyes of 50 consecutive patients including 27 male and 23 female subjects with mean age of 43.36±10.88 years were operated. The pterygia extended onto the corneas for 4.69±1.2 (range 3 to 7) mm. Only one eye (2%) demonstrated recurrent pterygium growth which responded to subconjunctival mitomycin C injection. Another eye (2%) developed amniotic membrane retraction which eventually required a second transplantation leading to complete resolution. CONCLUSION Primary pterygium excision with amniotic membrane transplantation is a safe and effective surgical technique with low recurrence rate.