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Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:1476-1480 doi:10.1136/bjo.2006.095018
  • Clinical science
    • Extended reports

Randomised controlled study of conjunctival autograft versus amniotic membrane graft in pterygium excision

  1. P Luanratanakorn1,
  2. T Ratanapakorn1,
  3. O Suwan-apichon1,
  4. R S Chuck2
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
  2. 2Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  1. Correspondence to: R S Chuck Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, 255 Woods Building, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287-9278, USA;rchuck1{at}jhmi.edu
  • Accepted 2 June 2006
  • Published Online First 12 July 2006

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether amniotic membrane can be used as an alternative to conjunctival autograft after pterygium excision.

Methods: 287 eyes with either primary or recurrent pterygium were included in this study. All eyes were randomised to undergo conjunctival autograft or amniotic membrane transplantation after pterygium excision by a single surgeon. 106 eyes in primary pterygium and 14 eyes in the recurrent group were treated with conjunctival autograft, and 148 eyes in primary pterygium and 19 eyes in the recurrent group were treated with amniotic membrane transplantation. Patients were followed up at 6 weeks and 6 months after operation. The main outcome measurement was recurrence rate after surgery.

Results: In the conjunctival group, the recurrence rate was 12.3%, 21.4% and 13.1% for primary, recurrent and all pterygia, respectively. In the amniotic membrane group, the recurrence rate was 25.0%, 52.6% and 28.1% for primary, recurrent and all pterygia, respectively. The recurrence rate for all pterygia in the amniotic membrane group was significantly higher than that in the conjunctival group (p = 0.003).

Conclusions: Amniotic membrane graft had a higher recurrence rate than conjunctival autograft. However, it is an alternative choice, especially for advanced cases with bilateral heads or patients who might need glaucoma surgery later.

Footnotes

  • Published Online First 12 July 2006

  • Funding: This study was supported by an invitation grant from the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.

  • Competing interests: None declared.

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