AIM: To compare the outcome in terms of patients comfort, graft stability, graft inflammation, recurrence and other postoperative complications between the two sizes of conjunctivolimbal autograft used in fibrin glue and suture less glue free methods of conjunctivolimbal autograft fixation for primary pterygium surgery.

METHODS: This was a prospective interventional comparative study conducted on 80 patients(80 eyes)with pterygium from December 2014 to August 2016. The study group was randomly selected and divided into two groups, i.e. people underwent fibrin glue was group 1, and those underwent suture less glue free methods of autograft fixation was group 2. For each group equal numbers of subjects were enrolled and further each group was divided into two more groups(groups A and B in group 1, groups C and D in group 2)by random selection. Group A(size of autograft same as bare sclera)and group B(size 1 mm larger than bare sclera)received fibrin glue technique; and group C(size of autograft same as bare sclera)and group D(size 1 mm larger than bare sclera)received suture less glue free technique of conjunctival autograft fixation. Each patient underwent pterygium excision with size of conjunctival autograft used as per the respective group. Follow up visits were scheduled at 1d, 1wk, 6wk, 6mo and 1y postoperatively.

RESULTS: Mean age of the patients in group 1(Fibrin glue group)was 43.525 years old and in group 2(suture less glue free group)was 42.2 years old. Females were 60 and males were 20. All the 37 patients had pterygium in RE. Average surgical time was similar in all the four groups. Postoperative parameters like patient comfort, graft retraction, graft inflammation and graft edema were similar in all the four groups during every postoperative follow-up visits except for subconjunctival haemorrhage which was significantly more in fibrin glue group until first postoperative week(P<0.0001). Grade 4 graft retraction/displacement was observed in only three patients from group 2. At 1wk postoperative, graft cyst was observed in two patients(one in group A and one in group D). Recurrence was observed in two patients(in group D)at 6mo follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Both methods are safe and effective for graft adhesion with less postoperative discomfort and complications. Compared to fibrin glue method, suture less and glue free method is very economical and outcome in this method is comparable to fibrin glue group. Since this procedure is cost effective and also have all the advantages of fibrin glue, suture less glue free method can be considered as very effective method in treating patients.