AIM:To study the effect of corneal epithelium healing time and long-term prognosis on pterygium by the surgery with reverse stripping.METHODS:To divide 56 eyes with primary pterygium into 2 groups randomly.The cases of reverse stripping group were treated by tearing the pterygium from the body to the head.The cases of conventional stripping group were treated by tearing the pterygium from the head to the body.All cases were treated by transplanting the pedicle-conjunctival flap and soaking the exposed sclera with MMC tampon during the operations.To observe the healing time of corneal epithelium and long-term prognosis.RESULTS:The reverse stripping group showed the shorter repair time of corneal epithelium(t=4.79,P<0.05)and the recurrence rate of reverse stripping group(1.6%) is significantly lower than that of conventional stripping group(10.2%,χ2=4.06,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Pterygium treated by reverse stripping can promote the repair of corneal epithelium and reduce the postoperative recurrence.