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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
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Published on: April 14, 2026
[Recurrence rates after pterygium excision with sliding conjunctival flap versus free conjunctival autograft]
1Augenklinik der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, 39120, Magdeburg. sandra.mueller@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
Background:
After simple excision without additional surgical measures, pterygiums demonstrate high recurrence rates. According to the literature, recurrences may occur in up to 83% after simple excision compared to 5-21% after excision combined with conjunctival autografts. An alternative to the free conjunctival graft is the sliding conjunctival graft.
Methods:
The data of 50 patients operated over a period of 8 years were evaluated retrospectively. The long-term results after pterygium excision with free conjunctival graft vs sliding conjunctival flap were compared with data extracted from the literature.
Results:
The average follow-up was 23 months. During this period, 18.5% of 27 operated eyes with free conjunctival grafts developed a recurrence of pterygium. After excision with sliding conjunctival grafts only 6.9% of 29 operated and examined eyes developed recurrences.
Conclusion:
In the present study pterygium excision combined with sliding conjunctival graft was a simplified surgical technique with a lower recurrence rate compared to the free conjunctival graft.
