Outcomes of fibrin glue-assisted conjunctival versus conjunctivolimbal autograft in primary pterygia with a new technique of conjunctival resection and Tenon extended removal.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the recurrence rates for primary pterygia after fibrin glue-assisted conjunctival autograft (CAG) versus conjunctivolimbal autograft (CLAG) transplantation, using a technique of limited conjunctival resection and Tenon extended removal.

METHOD: In this comparative case series, 49 eyes of 47 patients with primary nasal pterygium were included. Patients were randomized into 2 groups to undergo fibrin glue-assisted CAG (group 1, 24 eyes) or fibrin glue-assisted CLAG (group 2, 25 eyes) following excision of pterygium. The surgical technique used in all patients involved limited conjunctival resection combined with extensive removal of the Tenon capsule up to the caruncle medially and also 5 mm beyond the inferior and superior free edges of the conjunctiva. The main outcome measure studied was the absence or presence of recurrence.

RESULTS

There was 0% recurrence rate in both groups after a mean follow-up of 63 weeks (range, 54-81 weeks) with all eyes completing at least 1-year of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Fibrin glue-assisted CAG and CLAG using the technique of conjunctival resection and Tenon extended removal were equally efficacious in terms of preventing recurrences in patients with primary pterygia in our series.