A Comparitive Study of Suturing And Sutureless/ Glue Free Limbal Conjunctival Autograft for Primary Pterygium Surgery - A Hospital Based Study

Purpose: To compare and evaluate the safety and efficacy of suture less glue free limbal conjunctival autograft and conventional sutured autograft for the management of primary pterygium. Methods: The Randomized clinical trial was done with 100 male and female patients with diagnosis of primary/ Progressive pterygium from October 2014 to September 2016. The study groups randomly selected into 2 groups using simple randomization technique. Experimental group underwent autologous conjunctival graft fixation without sutures (sutureless) and control group underwent autologous conjunctival graft fixation with sutures. Results: Early graft retraction occurred 6% in Experimental group whereas it was present among 14% in control group. Conjunctival granuloma occurred in 2% and 6% cases, corneal scar in 4% and 8% cases, graft dehiscence in 8% and 0% cases in each group respectively. Recurrence rate was almost 6% and 8% respectively in both groups. Conclusion: In recent times, the autologous conjunctival graft fixation without sutures is a simpler, quicker and more comfortable surgical procedure. Replacing sutures with tissue adhesives may shorten the operating time, improve postoperative comfort, and avoid suture related complications