AIM:To compare the therapeutic effects of different surgical methods of treating patients with pterygium and to observe tear film stability.

METHODS:A total of 90 pterygium patients(90 eyes)were randomly divided into three groups, each 30 cases(30 eyes). The eyes in group A were treated with pterygium excision surgery; the eyes in group B were treated with 0.2g/L mitomycin-C and pterygium excision surgery intraoperatively; and the eyes in group C were treated with pterygium excision combined with self-corneal limbal stem cell transplantation. Data including Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt), tear break-up time(BUT), conjunctiva fluorescein staining(CFS), and ocular surface disease index(OSDI)were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively to evaluate the clinical efficacy of surgery and the effects of tear function changes.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in BUT in group A before the operation and one month after operation. Group B and C showed significant difference before and after operation, but differences were not statistically significant(all P<0.05); There were no statistically significant differences in all the parameters before the operation and 3 months after operation. The indexes of CFS and OSDI at postoperative 1 month and 3 months in three groups were significantly different with those before the surgery(P<0.05); the indexes of BUT, SⅠt, CFS and OSDI at postoperative 1 months in three groups were statistically significant different when compared with preoperation. The significant differences were identified by comparing the recurrence rate between group A and group B and between group A and group C(P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate between group B and group C(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Pterygium excision combined with self-corneal limbal stem cell transplantation is an ideal surgical method in treating pterygium, and can partly restore the tear functions into normal state in patients with pterygium.