Comparison of de-epithelialized amniotic membrane transplantation and conjunctival autograft after primary pterygium excision

Purpose: To study the efficacy of de-epithelialized amniotic membrane (AM) graft (AmbioDry, Okto Ophtho Inc., Costa Mesa, CA, USA) as an adjunctive therapy after primary pterygium excision in comparison to standard conjunctival autograft. Methods: A retrospective review of 23 eyes of 22 patients receiving pterygium excision followed by AM transplantation was performed. The results were compared retrospectively with 40 eyes of 36 patients receiving conjunctival autograft after pterygium excision. All patients were Hispanic. Recurrence was defined as regrowth of fibrovascular tissue over the corneoscleral limbus onto clear cornea in the area of previous pterygium excision. Results: The pterygium recurrence rates after AM graft and conjunctival autograft were 35 and 25%, respectively. There was no significant difference in recurrence rate between the two groups (P = 0.56). The mean follow-up period was 5.9 ± 2.4 months. No major complications were noted in either group. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence that de-epithelialized AM graft is as effective as conjunctival autograft in preventing pterygium recurrence in this Southern California Hispanic population.