title: Limbal-conjunctival vs conjunctival autograft transplant for recurrent pterygia: a prospective randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the safety and efficacy of limbal-conjunctival vs conjunctival autograft transplant for treating recurrent pterygia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, prospective, parallel-group clinical trial, 224 patients with advanced recurrent pterygia underwent free conjunctival autograft transplant (112 eyes) or limbal-conjunctival autograft transplant (112 eyes). Two hundred five patients completed the follow-up (100 eyes from the conjunctival autograft group and 105 eyes from the limbal-conjunctival autograft group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recurrence of pterygium, with complications as the secondary outcome measure (ie, signs of limbal stem cell deficiency).
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a mean follow-up of 62 (range, 36-96) months, 10 patients (10.0%) in the conjunctival autograft group and 1 patient (1.0%) in the limbal-conjunctival autograft group developed recurrence. No signs of limbal stem cell deficiency were observed during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limbal-conjunctival transplant is safe and more effective than free conjunctival transplant in preventing recurrence after excision of recurrent pterygia (P = .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limbal-conjunctival autografts could be a favored option for managing advanced recurrent pterygia in young high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: The Eye and Laser Centre and Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz University Medical School, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. malfayez@kau.edu.sa
authors.forename: Mashhoor F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Al Fayez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology