title: Observation of long-term efficacy of corneal limbal conjunctival autografts in microscopy treatments of pterygium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the long-term efficacy of a corneal limbal conjunctival autograft combined with pterygium excision in the treatment of primary pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  This random control study included 63 patients (63 eyes) with primary pterygium. These were randomly divided into a group with corneal limbal conjunctival autograft combined with pterygium excision (group A) and a group with pterygium excision with exposed sclera (group B) and subjected to long-term follow up. The surgical outcomes were classified and evaluated (grade I-IV). Several indexes were analyzed, including ocular surface irritation symptom, tear film stability, surgical complication, and recurrence rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The follow up ranged from 24 to 38 months, (26.9+/-3.4) months on average. No recurrence was noted at 6 weeks postoperatively. At 6 months postoperatively, the recurrence rate of pterygium was 5.2% in group A and 8.0% in group B. At 1 year postoperatively, the recurrence rate in group A was 10.5% and 20.0% in group B. At the end of follow up, the recurrence rates were 13.1% in group A and 24.0% in group B. No statistical significance was found between two groups regarding the recurrence rates at each time point (P>0.05). After the follow up (> 2 years), the severity of ocular surface conditions was significantly milder in patients in group A than in group B (P<0.01). No statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding postoperative tear film break-up time. Fewer postoperative complications and milder ocular surface irritation symptoms occurred in patients in group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corneal limbal conjunctival autograft combined with pterygium excision yields sound long-term efficacy and a low recurrence rate and induces only mild damage on the ocular surface when used as a treatment for pterygium.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
authors.forename: Yangfan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Hospital,Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Minshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Hospital,Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Fasong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D064592:Autografts; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D016685:Mitomycin; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012590:Sclera; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin