AIM: To evaluate postoperative reaction and the recurrence rate of two difference operation methods for the treatment of primary pterygium between Uygur and Han patients

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out in 91 cases(107 eyes)with primary pterygium undergone surgical treatment in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Excluded the patients who lost to follow, 54 eyes(Uighur 25 eyes, Han 29 eyes)underwent pterygium simple resection, 45 eyes(Uighur 20 eyes, Han 25 eyes)received pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation. Postoperative corneal epithelium integrity recovery time, foreign body sensation disappeared time, the occurrence of pterygium recurrence rate and complications were observed. The patients were followed up 6～24mo,

RESULTS: In the patients undergone pterygium simple resection, 11 eyes(44%)of Uighur and 8 eyes(27.59%)of Han recurred. 0 eye of Uighur and 1 eye of Han patient occurred symblepharon. In the patients received pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation, 3 eyes(15%)of Uighur and 1 eye(4%)of Han recurred. No symblepharon occurred in Han patients, and 1 eye of Uighur occurred symblepharon.During 6～24mo of follow-up, Chi-square test was used to compare the recurrence rate between two groups, and there was statistical significance(χ²_Uighur=4.36, χ²_Han=3.81; P<0.05). In two groups, there was no statistically significant difference on pterygium recurrence rate between Uighur and Han(χ²_simple=1.59, χ²_combine=2.14; P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Whether it is for Uighur or Han, pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation has lower pterygium recurrence rate than pterygium simple excision, it is more appropriate to local residents.