AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of surgical excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation, amniotic membrane transplantation for the treatment of pterygium.

METHODS:Ninety pterygium patients from March 2007 to March 2010 were randomly divided into corneal transplantation group and amniotic membrane transplantation group, with 45 cases in each group. Corneal transplantation group were treated with surgical excision plus limbal stem cell transplantation, amniotic membrane transplantation group were treated with surgical excision plus amniotic membrane transplantation, the treatment effects of two groups were observed.

RESULTS: All the patients in two groups had been followed up for about 2 years; wound healing time of corneal transplantation group was shorter than that of amniotic membrane transplantation group, with the statistically significant difference(P<0.05); 42 cases in corneal transplantation group were cured, and recurrence in 3 cases; 39 cases in amniotic membrane transplantation group were cured, and recurrence in 6 cases; and the difference of recurrence rate of two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Surgical excision combined withlimbal stem cell transplantation can treat pterygium, with low recurrence rate, fewer complications, and short healing time.