Posters

Conjunctival autograft for pterygium: clinical study in primary and recurrent pterygium

Poster Details

First Author: P.Garimoldi ITALY

Co Author(s):    S. Donati   C. Azzolini                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Aim of the study is to evaluate the incidence of recurrences of pterygium after surgical excision with conjunctival autograft.

Setting:

Unità Operativa di Oculistica Ospedale Galmarini ASST Settelaghi. Tradate Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Ospedale Macchi ASST Settelaghi. Varese, Italy.

Methods:

: 46 eyes of 32 patients, 21 male and 11 female, mean age 39 years, underwent to pterygium surgery. 13 eyes presented at baseline a recurrent pterygium and 33 a primary pterygium. Two patients presented temporal and nasal pterygium in both eyes (double pterygium). Surgical procedure included pterygium excision with wide removal of the fibrovascular membrane 3-4 mm long, backward positioning of the conjunctiva and conjunctival autograft, usually taken from the upper limbus, on the bared sclera. Conjuctival graft was fixed with fibrin glue.

Results:

All eyes had a follow up of at least six months: 40 eyes (87%) had a follow up to one year.;21 eyes (46%) of two years and 6 eyes (13%) up to 3 years. All patients showed conjunctival inflammation that decreased over time and disappeared in a period ranging from one to three months. Pterygium recurrence did not occurred in any patient. We observed a case of postoperative diplopia that resolved spontaneously after 4 days.

Conclusions:

Conjuctival autograft is effective in reducing the rate of recurrences. Fibrin glue allows a reduction in surgical time, in postoperative discomfort and in surgical procedures.

Financial Disclosure:

None