AIM: To observe the situations of different surgical methods on dry eyes in patients with pterygium excision combined transplantation.

METHODS: Seventy-eight cases ofpterygium patients(81 eyes)were randomly divided into three groups. Group A underwent pterygium excision combined large autologous conjunctival flap transplantation; group B underwent pterygium excision combined with small conjunctival flap; group C underwent pterygium excision combined with small conjunctival flap with autologous limbal stem cell. Repair of postoperative corneal epithelium, 1, 3mo preoperation and postoperation tear film break up time(BUT)and questionnaire of ocular surface disease index(OSDI)were observed among three groups, which caused the situation of dry eyes by pterygium and pterygium excision were evaluated.

RESULTS: BUT: Group A was shorter than that in groups B and C at 15d postoperation(P<0.05); at 1mo postoperation, group A was no statistical difference with groups B and C(P>0.05). Postoperative dry eye ratio of group A was higher than that in groups B and C at 1mo postoperation(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between group B and group C(P>0.05), but group C showed lower postoperative dry eye ratio. Corneal epithelium recover time of group A was longer than that in groups B and C(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between group B and group C(P>0.05), but group C showed a tendency to be shorter recover time.

CONCLUSION: Pterygium excision combined with small conjunctival flap and autologous limbal stem cell shows guickly corneal epithelium recover and low dry eye ratio and deserve to recommended.