Evaluation of the recurrence rate for pterygium treated with conjunctival autograft

The aim of this study was to evaluate the recurrence rate for the conjunctival autografts in the treatment of primary pterygium. Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients with the diagnosis of primary pterygium underwent surgical excision and were treated with conjunctival autografts. Complications, recurrence rate, and final appearance of the cases were evaluated prospectively. Complications were observed in five cases; three eyes with Dellen ulcer and two cases with a Tenon's cyst in the superior temporal quadrant. Recurrence was detected in three cases in the study group. The onset of recurrence was 4.5 months. Higher complication rates were detected among the patient group below 54 years old than in the patient group aged 54 years or over, 22.2 % vs 5.6 % respectively (p = 0.338). Complications were more frequent among male patients than among female patients, 22.2 % vs 5.6 % respectively (p = 0.338). Recurrence was detected in four cases (8 %), with an average recurrence time of 4.5 months. We suggest that conjunctival autografting is an effective technique in primary pterygium in terms of low recurrence rate. Increasing patient age is associated with significantly less risk of recurrence and complication.