Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of amniotic membrane transplantation associated with conjunctival autograft in primary pterygium treatment.
Methods: We have analyzed, prospectively, 26 patients (14 women and 12 men), from 20 to 60 years old, examined at the Evangelic Hospital Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic. They were submitted to primary pterygium treatment with pterygium excision surgery, amniotic membrane transplantation and conjunctival autograft, from April to November, 2001. The evaluated aspects were: degree of pterygium, postoperative complications and recurrence.
Results: Four cases (15.38%) showed complications, none of them considered serious, conjunctival graft contraction in 2 cases being the most frequent. After a follow-up of 6 months, 24 patients (92.3%) had a successful result and 2 patients (7.69%) had corneal or conjunctival recurrence. Among the patients with complications 50% presented pterygium recurrence (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It is a safe surgical procedure with a low degree of recurrence rate. Complications are associated with a greater chance of relapse. This procedure is also an option in cases where there is not sufficient conjunctiva to cover all excised area.