Evaluation of the recurrence rate and complications for pterygium treated with limbal conjunctival autograft

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation for treating primary pterygium over a period of 3y. METHODS: Prospective observational consecutive case series. In this study, 264 eyes of 264 patients (142 males and 122 females) with nasal primary pterygium were treated using the technique of limbal conjunctival autograft. The mean ages of the patients were 54.22±15.24y. After excision of the pterygium patients were followed up on 1, 3, 7d and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 36mo. Recurrence of pterygium, complications, operation time and corneal epithelialization time were evaluated. RESULTS: The average surgery time was 25.7±2.6min. With a minimum 3-year of follow-up, postoperative corneal epithelialization was completed in 3.85±0.72d. Complications were observed in 14 cases. Vision-threating complications such as iritis, scleral thinning symblepharon or ulceration were not detected in the study. Five eyes with graft edema, 3 eyes with granuloma formation and 6 cases with a subconjunctival hematoma in the nasal conjunctiva. By the end of 3-year follow-up, recurrence was detected in 11 cases. The recurrence rate was 4.17%, and the onset of recurrence was 3mo, the average recurrence time was 8mo. CONCLUSION: There were no severe complications and few recurrences when limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation was performed after long-term follow-up, we suggest that limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation is a safe and effective technique in primary pterygium. We also recommend that 12-month follow-up is optimal on primary pterygium surgery.

Effect of tissue glue versus suture in pterygium surgery in a tertiary care center of North-East India

Background: Pterygium is a triangular fibrovascular tissue of conjunctiva encroaching on to the cornea. Currently, conjunctival autograft technique after excision is reported as the most suitable and safest method. The autograft transplantation can be done either with the help of suture or tissue adhesives. Objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of tissue glue versus suture in limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation among the patients undergoing pterygium excision.Methods: A prospective study was carried out in a tertiary eye care hospital. 60 patients with primary pterygium underwent limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation. They were enrolled into two groups, group-A (tissue glue, N=30) and group-B (suture group, N=30). Operative time, postoperative patient comfort and recurrence of pterygium were assessed. The patients were followed-up for 6 months.Results: The mean surgical time in fibrin glue group (23.56±2.80) was significantly less compared to suture (30.78±2.20) group with p<0.001. Postoperative discomfort in terms of pain, lacrimation and foreign body sensation was significantly less with fibrin glue in comparison to suture (p<0.05). Postoperative complications like redness, subconjunctival hemorrhage, graft edema and graft retraction were significantly more in suture group during late postoperative period. Recurrence of pterygium was noted in two patients (6.67%) in suture group and one patient in fibrin glue group (3.33%) which was not statistically significant (p>0.005).Conclusions: The use of fibrin glue for securing the limbal conjunctival autograft in pterygium surgery significantly reduces the operating time and postoperative discomfort.

Pterygium excision with suture-less and glue-free conjunctival autograft

Introduction: Pterygium excision is a commonly encountered surgery with different methods being used. These procedures range from simple excision to use of grafts. Limbal conjunctival autograft is currently the most popular surgical procedure. The most common method of autograft fixation is suturing. But it has its own drawbacks like increased operating time, post-operative discomfort, inflammation, buttonholes, necrosis, giant papillary conjunctivitis, scarring, and granuloma formation. Glue is widely used due to many advantages like easy fixation of the graft, shorter operation time, and reduction in complications and post-operative discomfort but at the same time has some disadvantages also like high cost, the risk of transmission of infectionsand inactivation by iodine preparations. Purpose: In the following study, we describe a simple method of accomplishing conjunctival autograft adherence during pterygium surgery avoiding possible complications associated with the use of fibrin glue or sutures. Design: Prospective study. Method: We used conjunctival autograft, which was not sutured or glued to the scleral bed. The fibrin formed from the oozing blood was used to get the graft adhesion to the scleral bed. This study was approved by institutional review board, and written consent form was taken from each participant. Results: The suture-less and glue-free conjunctival autograft was found to have excellent results in terms of surgical outcome as well as post-operative recovery. In addition, risk of side effects related to sutures and glue was eliminated. Conclusion: Suture-less and glue-free conjunctival autograft is a new, easy, and cheaper technique for the management of pterygium.

Effects of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy in limbal-conjunctival autograft transplantation for recurrent pterygium: a retrospective case control study

Background Repeated surgery excisions could induce obvious irregular astigmatism in patients with recurrent pterygium. Our study is aimed to illustrate the effect of adjunct excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in limbal-conjunctival autograft transplantation on visual quality for patients with recurrent pterygium. Methods Retrospective case-control study. Eyes that underwent pterygium excision with (PTK group) or without (control group) PTK from 2006 to 2017 were retrospectively included. Recurrence rate, preoperative and postoperative surface regularity index (SRI), surface asymmetry index (SAI), cylinder and LogMAR vision were collected. Postoperative anterior segment optical coherence topography and in vivo confocal microscopy were performed to monitor the cornea epithelium healing and cellular recovery process respectively. Results A total of 99 eyes of 99 patients were collected, of which 39 were treated with PTK and 60 without PTK. The mean follow-up time was 50.4 ± 38.1 months. The recurrence rate was 10.3% (4 eyes) in the PTK group and 13.3% (8 eyes) in the control group (p = 0.759). The SRI decreased 0.53 (range: − 0.88, 2.81), SAI decreased 0.53 (range: − 0.64, 2.94), and the cylinder decreased 2.08 (range:-0.16, 9.40) D in the PTK group, and the corresponding values were 0.48 (range:-0.45, 2.27), 0.27 (range:-1.06, 2.21) and 0.71 (range:-1.75, 3.55) D in the control group, respectively (Z = 1.76, 2.15, and 3.97, p = 0.005, 0.016, and 0.000 respectively). LogMAR vision improved in both groups after surgery, with an improvement of 0.18 (range: 0.00, 0.70) in the PTK group and 0.06 (range: − 0.12, 0.50) in the control group (Z = 4.08, p = 0.000). Besides, the eyes treated with PTK showed faster re-epithelization and better cellular recovery. Conclusions For recurrent pterygium, surgical excision with adjunct PTK might be a better option with improved corneal surface and vision outcomes.