Efficacy of Limbal-conjunctival Autograft Surgery with Stem Cells in Pterygium Treatment

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of limbal-conjunctival autograft surgery with stem cells in the management of primary and recurrent pterygium and determine the best corrected visual acuity after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical excision of pterygium and limbal-conjunctival transplantation with stem cells was of 40 eyes (of 31 patients) with pterygium. Thirty one cases were primary and nine cases were recurrent pterygia. Graft margins were secured to the recipient site while stem cells aspect was sutured to the limbus. RESULTS: After one year of follow-up, 37 of 40 (92.5%) eyes were free of recurrence. One of the three recurrent cases was aggressive (recurrence occurred two months after surgery) and the other two showed 2 mm corneal extension at 12 months follow-up. In 24 patients, out of 40 (60%), best corrected visual acuity improved more than two lines. CONCLUSION: Limbal-conjunctival autograft surgery, including stem cells, appears to be an effective surgical technique in preventing pterygium recurrence and it can also help in improving the best corrected visual acuity.