AIM: To compare the effects of continuous side whipstitch suture and interrupted suture in conjunctival autograft surgery after resection of primary pterygium.

METHODS: A comparative, prospective and randomized clinical trial was performed in 48 eyes of 48 patients with primary pterygium. All patients were randomly divided into two groups with 24 eyes of 24 patients in each group. In group A and B, continuous side whipstitch suture and interrupted suture were respectively adopted. The time spent in suture was recorded during surgery. The postoperative ocular discomfort and the time spent in taking out stitches were recorded during the 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS: The average surgical time was 14.05±2.30 minutes for group A and 19.34±2.12 minutes for group B(P<0.01). The ocular discomfort scale analysis showed a lower score in the 3^rd (1.32±0.60 vs 1.68±0.35, P<0.05), 5^th(0.87±0.24 vs 1.26±0.68, P<0.05)postoperative days in group A, compared with group B. The average time of removing stitches was 9.15±3.36 minutes in group A and 12.61±3.89 minutes in group B(P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: In the surgical management of primary pterygium, continuous side whipstitch suture can improve the surgical efficiency and decrease the ocular discomfort in the postoperative period. It proves to be an excellent option for conjunctival autograft attachment in primary pterygium surgery.