A prospective comparative study of conjunctival autograft (CAG) with dry amniotic membrane graft (AMG) transplantation in pterygium excision surgery

Abstract

: Pterygium is a wing-shaped, fibrovascular proliferation of the bulbar conjunctiva which crosses the limbus and causes encroachment over the cornea. It is mainly treated by surgical excision. Management options for pterygium include conjunctival autografting, and the use mitomycin C, amniotic membrane graft, 5-fluorouracil, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, and β-irradiation along with excision, to avoid recurrence.: To compare the efficacy and safety of conjunctival autograft (CAG) transplantation and dry amniotic membrane graft (AMG) transplantation in pterygium excision surgery.: Prospective comparative study.: The study was done on 43 eyes of 43 patients. CAG was transplanted on 23 patients & dry AMG was transplanted on 20 patients. All patients were followed up on day 1, day 7, 1 month and 6 months post operatively. On each visit pterygium recurrence, graft retraction, necrosis and visual outcomes were noted from all the patients.: Fisher exact test.: 28(65%) were males while 15(35%) were females. Most of the patients were <40 years of age. During the follow up period, best corrected visual acuity of 3(7%) patients remained same and improved in 40(93%) patients. CAG group had 2(8.69%) while dry AMG group had 4(20%) recurrences (p value = 0.39, non-significant).: Although both the groups showed low recurrence rate but recurrence rate was more in dry AMG group as compared to conjunctival autograft group.: AMG is not always the best option for treating pterygium, but in some situations—such as those with extensive pterygium, conjunctival scarring etc.—it may be more advantageous for the patient.