Purpose: To retrospectively assess the efficacy of pterygium excision using bulbar conjunctival autograft with intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) for primary pterygium.
Methods: Primary pterygium eyes of 1482 patients (1832 eyes) which had undergone excision surgery using bulbar conjunctival autograft with intraoperative MMC in Miyata Eye Hospital were studied. The patients' background and position and the size of the pterygium were reviewed. For 1188 eyes that were followed up 1 year or longer, the recurrence rate and periods were assessed. Factors such as age, occupation, sex, the size of pterygium and the skill of the surgeon were examined as risk factors for recurrence.
Results: Mean age was 65.0±10.0 years. The pterygium was in the nasal side in 99.0% of eyes, and the size in 55.4% of eyes was equal to the distance between one and two thirds of the radius of the cornea. The recurrence rate was 3.96% and was noted 9 months after the surgery. Significant risk factors were age of patient (p=0.028) and the skill of the surgeon (p=0.022).
Conclusion: Pterygium excision using bulbar conjunctival autograft with intraoperative mitomycin C was effective in primary pterygium.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 117: 743-748, 2013.