RECURRENCE OF PTERYGIUM AFTER EXCISION WITH CONJUNCTIVAL LIMBAL AUTOGRAFT USING SUTURES VERSUS AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD (NON GLUE, SUTURELESS)

Objective: To compare outcome of pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft using sutures versus conjunctival limbal autograft using autologous blood. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalakot, from Jul 2017 to Jul 2018. Material and Methods: After getting approval from hospital ethical committee 140 patients with primary pterygium were included in the study. The demographic details were noted and patients were randomized by lottery method in two groups (group A & B). Both groups were operated under topical anesthesia (Alcain). Group A underwent lamellar pterygium excision followed by limbal conjunctival autograft secured with nylon 10/0 sutures. Group B underwent limbal conjunctival autograft using autologous blood (non-glue, suture less), 2-3 drops of patients own blood below graft acted as adhesive when left there for 15 to 20 minutes. Patients were followed up at 2 weeks, 2 month and 6 months postoperatively to see recurrence. All the readings were carried out and noted by single person in order to minimize study bias. Results: A total of 140 patients (70 in each group) were included in the study with a mean age of 32.88 ± 5.82 years in group A and 32.97 ± 4.69 years in group-B. Regarding gender distribution, 51.43% in group-A and 48.57% in group-B were males. Comparison of outcome of pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft using sutures vs conjunctival limbal autograft using autologous blood showed that 15.71% in group-A and 5.71% in group-B had recurrence of pterygium. Conclusion: We concluded that the recurrence was significantly lower after pterygium excision when comparing conjunctival limbal autograft using autologous blood (non-glue, suture less) with conjunctival autograft using sutures.