AIM:To compare the recurrence rates between primary pterygium excision with limbal epithelial autograft transplantation and amniotic membrane transplantation.

METHODS: There were 99 patients(103 eyes)with primary pterygium. These patients were randomly divided into two groups, group A received limbal epithelial autograft transplantation combined with pterygium excision(n=54)and group B received amniotic membrane transplantation(n=49). All patients were followed up with 1a. Breaking-up time(BUT)of tear film and recurrence rates were observed.

RESULTS: One year after surgery, in the limbal epithelial autograft transplantation group, 4 eyes(7.4%)had recurrence pterygium, in the amniotic membrane transplantation group, 11 eyes(22.5%)had recurrence pterygium, The recurrence rates of the two surgical methods were significantly different(P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding postoperative tear film BUT(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Limbal epithelial autograft transplantation combined with pterygium excision is superior to amniotic membrane transplantation in terms of recurrence rates.