Comparisons of Pterygium Removal Surgery Using Free Conjunctival Autograft versus Amniotic Membrane Transplantation

To compare the surgical outcomes and recurrence rate after pterygium removal surgery using free conjunctival autograft (CAT) versus amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).
In this prospective study, 60 patients with primary pterygium were randomly assigned to the CAT group or AMT group and were compared in terms of recurrence rate, mean healing time of epithelial defects, mean level of inflammation in the site of surgery, and complications.
The mean patient age was 48.98±9.8 years (range: 27-71 years). Of patients, 73.3% were men and 26.7% were women. The groups did not differ with respect to demographic characteristics (P>0.05). Patients were followed for an average of 12.6±1.3 months. The recurrence rates were 6.7% and 3.3% in the AMT and CAT groups, respectively (P>0.05). Mean inflammation score was higher in the AMT group in the first, third, and sixth postoperative months (P No significant complications were observed during or after both surgical methods. No statistically significant difference was seen in recurrence rate and epithelial healing time between the CAT and AMT groups. Therefore, both procedures can be considered appropriate choices for pterygium removal surgery.