Limbal autograft transplantation for recurrent and advanced pterygia.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to examine the usefulness of limbal autograft transplantation in the treatment of recurrent and advanced pterygia.


METHODS
Eleven patients with recurrent and 16 with advanced pterygia (a total of 27 pterygia) were treated with limbal autograft transplantation. Once a pterygium had been excised, superior limbal tissue was taken with conjunctival flap and transferred to the excised area.


RESULTS
All the grafts were planted promptly, and donor sites were re-epithelialized with no excessive scar tissue formation. Although slight recurrence was noted in 2 eyes (7.4%), subconjunctival tissue invasions were limited to less than 1 mm, and no further surgical interventions were needed.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that limbal autograft transplantation may be effective for the treatment of recurrent and advanced pterygia.
Shimazaki
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
Yang
H Y
HY
Tsubota
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011625:Pterygium / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016378:Tissue Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity