Merest sclera technique for primary pterygium surgery

Over a 5-year period, 800 patients with primary pterygium underwent "merest sclera" surgery, a procedure in which the injured limbo-conjunctival area is covered completely with superior and inferior conjunctival flaps so that the tear film can be reestablished. After a 1-year follow-up, 17 recurrences were found (2.1%). All these resulted from premature wound dehiscence and/or postoperative infection.