AIM: To analyze the application value of corneal limbus stem cells transplantation in the treatment of pterygium.

METHODS: Totally 300 patients(318 eyes)with pterygium were divided into 2 groups according to treatment methods. Patients of the control group(70 patients with 77 eyes)were given simple surgical resection, while patients of the observation group(230 patients with 241 eyes)were given corneal limbus stem cells transplantation after surgical resection. The postoperative recurrent rate, corneal epithelium incision healing time, corneal epithelium healing degree, pain score and tear film break-up time were observed.

RESULTS: The corneal epithelium incision healing time of the observation group and control group were respectively 5.2±1.9d and 6.4±1.7d, and the difference had statistical significance(P<0.05). There was no patient recurred in the observation group, while there were 7 eyes(9.1%)recurred in the control group, and the difference between groups had statistical significance(P<0.05). At 1wk after treatment, there was no significant difference in corneal epithelium healing degree and pain score between groups(P>0.05). At 2wk after treatment, the corneal epithelium healing degree of the observation group was better, and the pain score of the observation group was lower than those of the control group, the differences between groups had statistical significance(P<0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in tear film break-up time between groups(P>0.05). At 1 and 2wk after treatment, the tear film break-up time of the observation group was longer than that of the control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Corneal limbus stem cell transplantation can prevent postoperative recurrence of pterygium effectively, and its postoperative tissue repair effect is superior to simple surgery.