title: Visual outcome and efficacy of conjunctival autograft, harvested from the body of pterygium in pterygium excision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of conjunctival autograft after the pterygium excision with fibrin adhesive using conjunctiva over the pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 25 eyes of 25 patients with a mean age of 40±10 years, who underwent the pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft derived from the body of the pterygium and attached using fibrin glue. The mean follow-up period was 6 months. On all postoperative visits, changes in uncorrected visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, astigmatism, complications, and the evidence of recurrence were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of mean follow-up, uncorrected visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity improved by one or two lines in all eyes treated. Mean astigmatism reduced significantly from a preoperative value from 2.308D to 1.248D postoperatively (P<0.026). Minor postoperative complications such as congestion, chemosis, and subconjunctival hemorrhage were seen, which resolved with time. No major sight-threatening or graft-related complications were detected. There was no evidence of recurrence during a follow-up period of 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-conjunctival autograft following the pterygium excision appears to be a feasible, safe, and effective alternative method for management of pterygium. It also preserves the superior conjunctiva for future surgeries. However, longer follow-up is required to study the long-term outcomes, especially the incidence of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea, Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhandari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea, Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Chandan Latha
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea, Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Sri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea, Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Sheetal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brar
keywords: Pterygium; autograft; body; self-conjunctival graft