AIM: To observe the clinical effect of limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation(LCAT)or amniotic membrane transplantation(AMT)in treatment of primary pterygium.

METHODS: Analysis of 96 cases(96 eyes)with primary pterygium treated at Shenzhen People's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 was taken. Depending on the surgical methods, the patients were divided into two groups: excision of pterygium and limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation being performed in LCAT group(46 cases, 46 eyes); excision of pterygium and amniotic membrane transplantation being performed in AMT group(50 cases, 50 eyes). Two groups were followed-up for 12mo to compare the operation time, the corneal epithelium repair time, postoperative complications and the recurrence rate.

RESULTS: The operation time of LCAT and AMT group was 33.83±1.65min, 23.60±1.51min respectively, the LCAT group was higher than the AMT group(t=-31.683, P<0.001). The corneal epithelium repair time of LCAT and AMT group was 4.04±0.95d, 4.67±1.18d respectively, the LCAT group was lower than the AMT group(t=-2.922, P=0.004); 1 case was recurred in LCAT group, 3 cases were recurred in AMT group. The recurrence rate was 2% in LCAT group and 6% in AMT group, but it hadn't show a significant statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.618). One case of conjunctival granuloma was observed in 2wk after surgery of LCAT group, but no serious complications were observed in AMT group.

CONCLUSION: Limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation and amniotic membrane transplantation are effective and safe methods to primary pterygium, which have advantages of rapid recovery, fewer complications and the lower recurrence rate.