AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation for treating primary pterygium over a period of 3y.

METHODS: Prospective observational consecutive case series. In this study, 264 eyes of 264 patients(142 males and 122 females)with nasal primary pterygium were treated using the technique of limbal conjunctival autograft. The mean ages of the patients were 54.22±15.24a. After excision of the pterygium patients were followed up on 1, 3, 7d and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 36mo. Recurrence of pterygium, complications, operation time and corneal epithelialization time were evaluated.

RESULTS: The average surgery time was 25.7±2.6min. With a minimum 3-year of follow-up, postoperative corneal epithelialization was completed in 3.85±0.72d. Complications were observed in 14 cases. Vision-threating complications such as iritis, scleral thinning symblepharon or ulceration were not detected in the study. 5 eyes with graft edema, 3 eyes with granuloma formation and 6 cases with a subconjunctival hematoma in the nasal conjunctiva. By the end of 3-year follow-up, recurrence was detected in 11 cases. The recurrence rate was 4.17%, and the onset of recurrence was 3mo, the average recurrence time was 8mo.

CONCLUSION: There were no severe complications and few recurrences when limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation was performed after long-term follow-up, we suggest that limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation is a safe and effective technique in primary pterygium. We also recommend that 12-month follow-up is optimal on primary pterygium surgery.