57 eyes with a pterygium, including 12 eyes (22%) from which a pterygium had previously been removed by a simple excision, underwent a corneoscleral lamellar excision of pterygium followed by a corneal lamellar keratoplasty. During a mean follow-up of 37 months, we observed a recurrence in 2 eyes (3.5%). The corneal astigmatism measured with a Javal keratometer showed a modification in 54 eyes (95%). Visual acuity improved in 4 (7%) eyes, was unchanged in 29 (51%) and deteriorated in 23 (40%) eyes. The benefits of the low recurrence rate after this surgical procedure are to be weighed against the risk of modification of the corneal astigmatism and the possible modification of the visual acuity.