AIM:To investigate the clinical effect of modified free conjunctival flap transplantation with limbal stem cells in the treatment of pterygium and its impact on tear film function.

METHODS: A total of 60 pterygium patients admitted to our hospital from March 2017 to March 2021 were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was treated with amniotic membrane transplantation, and the observation group was treated with modified free conjunctival flap transplantation with limbal stem cells. The treatment period of both groups was 21d. And then the clinical efficacy, operation duration, corneal wound repair time, xerophthalmia score, tear film rupture time value and basic tear secretion test value before and 1, 3mo after treatment, and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The total effective rate of clinical treatment in the observation group was higher than that of the control group(χ²=5.963, P=0.015), the operation duration in the observation group was longer than that for the control group(t=-2.643, P<0.05), and the repair time of corneal wound was shorter than that of the control group(t=2.182, P<0.05). At 1 and 3mo after surgery, dry eye score in two groups decreased compared with that before surgery(all P<0.05), and there was a difference between observation group and control group(t=2.082, 3.956; all P<0.05). The time of tear film rupture at 1 and 3mo after surgery was increased compared with that before surgery(all P<0.05), and there was a difference between the observation group and the control group(t=4.245, 2.070; all P<0.05).The experimental value of basal tear secretion at 1 and 3mo after surgery increased compared with that before surgery(all P<0.05), and there was a difference between the observation group and the control group(t=2.076, 2.223; all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups(P=0.572).

CONCLUSION: The improved free conjunctival flap transplantation with limbal stem cells can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and tear film function of patients with pterygium, which is beneficial to the recovery of postoperative corneal wound, and can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.