AIM: To compare the curative effect of autologous corneal limbus stem cell with bulbar conjunctiva transplantation of supprior-inferior bulbar conjunctiva in the treatment of pterygium and effect of postoperative scarring on bulbar conjunctiva on performing glaucoma filtration surgery in the future.

METHODS: A total of 182 patients(252 eyes)with initial pterygium were divided into two groups by sortition randomization method. Eighty-five patients of the group A(110 eyes)accepted pterygium resection combined stem cell transplantation of supprior autologous corneal limbus, while 97 patients of the group B(142 eyes)of pterygium excision combined stem cell transplantation of inferior autologous corneal limbus in treatment of pterygium. Postoperative follow-up from 1～12mo. Recurrence rate and conjunctival scar formation after autologous corneal limbus stem cells being taken were observed in the two groups to judge the impact on the future glaucoma filtration surgery.

RESULTS: After follow-up from 1～12mo, there was no significant difference of postoperative recurrence between the group A and group B(χ²=0.015, P>0.05). Stem cell taken from supprior autologous corneal limbus in the group A caused supprior bulbar conjunctiva scarring, while it caused inferior scarring in the group B. For routine glaucoma filtration surgery usually is being done in the upper bulbar conjunctiva, on the nose or superior bulbar conjunctival area above the temporal region, and the above healthy bulbar conjunctiva has being kept in the group B which retained area for future glaucoma filtration surgery.

CONCLUSION: Autologous corneal limbus stem cell transplantation of supprior-inferior bulbar conjunctiva could be effective in the treatment of pterygium, but stem cell transplantation of inferior autologous corneal limbus could keep area for glaucoma filtration surgery.