ABSTRACT

To present our innovative limboconjunctival flap technique in the surgical treatment of primary pterygium and evaluate its effectiveness and safety.

Thirty three eyes of 32 patients diagnosed with primary pterygium were included in this study. Cases with primary pterygium extending ≥3 mm into the cornea were analyzed in this prospective study. Patients with recurrent pterygium, double-head pterygium, and suspected malignity cases were excluded. A limboconjunctival flap prepared from the upper nasal conjunctiva adjacent to the area of excision was pulled over the scleral bed and fixed with three separated 8.0 vicryl sutures.

Fifteen of the patients (46.87%) were male and 17 were female (53.1%). The mean age of the patients was 47.9 (42-69) years. No intraoperative complication was observed. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 5.2 months (1-6 months). In all cases, the corneal epithelial defect improved within a week. Ten (76.9%) cases were successfully repaired, while in one case, the flap was displaced 0.5 mm toward the cornea. In addition, two recurrences were observed.

We suggest that our innovative technique can be an alternative approach in the surgical management of primary pterygium because of its easy practicability, rapid postoperative rehabilitation, and improved patient satisfaction. However, larger-scale comparative studies are required to establish the effectiveness and safety of this technique. (JAREM 2015; 5: 17-21)

Keywords: Flap, cornea, limboconjunctival, pterygium