Amniotic membrane transplantation for primary pterygium surgery

Abstract EN

Purpose : To evaluate the outcomes of primary pterygium excision with adjunctive amniotic membrane transplantation. Methods : In an interventional case series, 25 consecutive patients with primary pterygia underwent surgical excision with transplantation of fresh amniotic membrane onto bare sclera in Al-Hakeem general Hospital at Al Najaf city.

Patients were followed for at least 12 months and the results were evaluated in terms of recurrent pterygium growth and complications. Results : 25 of 25 consecutive patients including 14 male and 11 female subjects with mean age of 40 ± 8.8 years were operated.

The pterygia extended onto the corneas for 4.2 ± 1.2 (range 3 to 5.5) mm.

Only one eye (4 %) demonstrated recurrent pterygium growth.

Conclusion : Primary pterygium excision with amniotic membrane transplantation is safe and effective surgical technique with low recurrence rate.