AIM: To analyze the influence of limbal conjunctival autograft and amniotic membrane transplantation on vision, corneal astigmatism(CAD)and tear film function in patients undergo pterygium surgery.

METHODS: Totally 96 patients(96 eyes)who had undergone pterygium surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology at Pengzhou People's Hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study between August 2018 and March 2020. According to random number table method, the patients were divided into observation group(48 patients with 48 eyes treated with pterygium excision combined with limbal conjunctival autograft)and control group(48 patients with 48 eyes treated with pterygium excision combined with amniotic membrane transplantation). General surgical indicators, uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), tear film function \〖break-up time(BUT), SⅠt\〗, CAD, ocular surface disease index(OSDI), recurrence rate and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The surgical time of observation group was longer than that of the control group, and the corneal epithelial healing time was shorter than that of the control group(P<0.001). There was no significant difference in hospital stay or conjunctival hyperemia and edema remission time between the two groups(P >0.05). The UCVA of the two groups increased at 1, 3 and 6mo after surgery(P<0.05), without statistically significant difference between groups(P >0.05). Compared with pre-operation, the BUT and SⅠt of both groups also increased, while CAD and OSDI scores decreased at 1, 3 and 6mo after surgery(P<0.05). Besides, the BUT and SⅠt of observation group at 1mo after surgery were shorter/lower than control group, which were longer/higher than control group at 3 and 6mo after surgery(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in CAD between the two groups(P >0.05). OSDI scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group at 1, 3 and 6mo after surgery(P<0.05). The recurrence rate of observation group within 6mo after surgery was lower than that of control group(P<0.05), but the difference in incidence of complications was not significant(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Compared with amniotic membrane transplantation, limbal conjunctival autograft combined with pterygium excision applied in treatment of patients with pterygium can significantly shorten the corneal epithelial healing time, and reduce the influence on tear film function and recurrence rate, without affecting vision and corneal astigmatism. It is also safe and reliable.