Recurrence of Pterygium in Patients Having Conjunctival Autograft and Bare Sclera Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Pterygium is one of the commonest disorders in a tropical country like Pakistan. It can occur on either side of the cornea but the nasal limbus is involved much more commonly. Pterygia are reported to occur in males twice as frequently as in females. Exposure to ultraviolet light is presumed to be the most important risk factor. A wide range of surgical procedures for removal of pterygium have been used, including, bare sclera resection and pterygium excision with con-junctival autograft placement.
Objectives: To assess the recurrence of pterygium in patients having conjunctival autograft and patients undergoing bare sclera surgery.
Study Design: This was an analytical study.
Place of Study: This study was carried out in Unit – I, Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore.
Duration of Study: March 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006.
Subjects: One hundred patients were selected randomly from the out patients department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Fifty patients were operated with bare sclera technique and 50 patients operated with conjunctival autograft tech-nique.
Methods: Before surgery, detailed history and complete ocular examination was done. Moreover, investigations blood com-plete examination, blood glucose level was also done.
Surgical Techniques: (i) bare sclera (ii) conjunctival autograft.
Results: It was found that there was low recurrence (10%) with conjunctival autograft and (60%) in bare sclera technique.
Conclusion: It was concluded that there was low recurrence insignificant complications, rapid surface healing and resto-ration of cosmetically acceptable appearance following conjunctival autograft.
Keywords: Pterygium surgery, conjunctival autograft, bare sclera excision.