Of 91 pterygia treated by simple excision (by the same surgeon, using the same technique) followed by beta-irradiation 7 recurred. Of 15 recurrent pterygia treated by complete excision by the bare-sclera technique associated with a conjunctival autograft only 1 recurred again. Conjunctival autografting is simple and efficacious, and gives very good esthetic results in cases of recurrent pterygium.