[Limbo-conjunctival autografting in pterygium surgery]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Techniques
• Ocular Surface Disease

Background:

• Pterygium is a common ocular surface condition requiring surgical intervention.
• Various surgical techniques exist for pterygium excision, each with varying recurrence rates.
• Evaluating the comparative efficacy of these techniques is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficiency of limbo-conjunctival autografting in pterygium surgery.
• To compare the recurrence rates of limbo-conjunctival autografting with other pterygium surgical methods.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study in TgMures, RO (20 months) compared limbo-conjunctival autografting and the Arlt technique.
• A retrospective observational study in Debrecen, Hungary (15 months) analyzed four methods: Arlt, McReynolds, sclero-corneal lamellar plasty, and limbo-conjunctival autografting.
• Intraoperative and postoperative complications were monitored alongside recurrence rates.

Main Results:

• In TgMures, limbo-conjunctival autografting demonstrated a lower pterygium recurrence rate compared to the Arlt technique.
• In Debrecen, the Arlt technique was associated with the highest number of pterygium relapses among the four methods studied.
• Limbo-conjunctival autografting showed promising results with reduced relapse rates across both centers.

Conclusions:

• Limbo-conjunctival autografting exhibits superior efficiency in pterygium surgery, significantly reducing the rate of recurrence.
• The study strongly recommends the adoption and use of limbo-conjunctival autografting for pterygium treatment.
• This technique offers a more effective solution for managing pterygium and preventing its regrowth.