Management of primary pterygia using free conjunctival and limbal-conjunctival autografts without antimetabolites.
OBJECTIVE
To report the incidence of recurrence after primary pterygium surgery using either a free conjunctival or limbal-conjunctival autograft without antimetabolites.


METHODS
One hundred eleven eyes of 90 patients underwent pterygium resection; a free conjunctival autograft was used in 88 surgeries and a free limbal-conjunctival autograft in 24; the latter technique was reserved for dark-skinned patients, under age 30, and with a history of recurrent pterygium in the contralateral eye.


RESULTS
Mean age was 42.5 years (range, 23-75), and 50% of the patients were male. Mean follow-up was 9 months (range, 3-12). There were 2 recurrences (1.8%), both observed in the third postoperative month.


CONCLUSIONS
With a good surgical technique, the incidence of recurrence after primary pterygium surgery is very low, making the use of antimetabolites unnecessary.
Mejía
Luis F
LF
Cornea Service, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud-CES, Medellín, Colombia. lfmejia@epm.net.co
Sánchez
Juan G
JG
Escobar
Héctor
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000963:Antimetabolites; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D000075202:Contraindications; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000963:Antimetabolites