[Non-freeze epikeratoplasty in recurrent pterygium]

We present five patients with recurrent pterygium. Prior to our surgical procedure the patients had had several surgical interventions as well as radiotherapy. Up to four-fifths of their corneal surface was covered by a multilayered pterygium including symblepharon scarring in the lower and upper lid, completely immobilizing the globe. The pterygium was removed, the conjunctival strains excised, and corneal abrasion was carried out with a rotating diamond tool. Finally, an optical non-freeze epikeratoplasty processed by the Non-freeze Barraquer-Krumreich-Swinger refractive set (BKS-1000) was sewn on the recipient cornea with a double running antitorque suture. In all patients, the epikeratoplasty donor cornea remained clear. In one patient there was a small pterygium recurrence, which was treated successfully with 5-fluorouracil.