Randomised controlled study of amniotic membrane graft versus conjunctival autograft in primary pterygium excision

Abstract

To study the outcome of amniotic membrane graft versus conjunctival autograft after primary pterygium excision surgeries amongst various genders and age groups and to compare recurrences, complications and pre and post-operative astigmatism in various grades of nasal and temporal pterygium. A total of 90 eyes of 90 patients with previously unoperated primary pterygium were enrolled in a randomised control trial. The patients had a follow-up of 6 months during analysis and the results were compared retrospectively with patients who had pterygium excision surgeries with conjunctival autografts performed by the same surgeon. A higher proportion of males underwent grafting with amniotic membrane while more females underwent conjunctival autografting. The p value =0.011 was significant. A higher proportion of patients were between the ages of 31-40 years and the p value=0.001 was significant. A majority of patients from both groups had nasal pterygium with p value=0.026 being significant. The overall astigmatism pre operatively from both groups=0.431 and 0.143 postoperatively. Amniotic membrane grafting in primary pterygium surgery led to fewer complications, recurrences and astigmatism postoperatively and was more useful in patients who may have lesser amounts of conjunctiva for future surgeries.