Abstract

Aim: The objective of this study is to determine the recurrence rates in pterygium surgery with autograft transplantation and to investigate the factors affecting recurrence.
Material and Methods: This study was carried out in our clinics between July 2015 and March 2017, and patients who had undergone pterygium surgery with autograft were examined retrospectively. Forty-six patient were included in the study. Demographic data of the patients, comorbidities, follow-up periods, complications, size of the pterygium, recurrence rate, rate of inflammation persisting in the autograft at week 2 were recorded.
Results: Forty-six patients who had undergone pterygium operations with autografts were included in this study The mean age of the patients was 46.6±15.6 y. Recurrence was seen in 13.3% (6/46) patients during the mean follow-up period of 12.06±4.5 months. The mean period of time elapsed till recurrence was 4.3±1.3 months. The mean pterygium size was 3.9±0.6 mm. Discomfort still continuing at week 2 was seen with a rate of 22.2%. Regarding to the complications; Tenon cyst was seen in 6.7% (3/46), graft edema in %8.9% (4/46) and dellen was seen in 4.4% (2/46). Recurrence rate was 7.4% in females and while it was 22.2% in males, which was higher as compared to females.
Conclusion: Pterygium surgery using conjunctival autograft is a safe and effective technique; and while recurrence can be seen with a low rate, recurrence is affected by factors including age, gender and size of the pterygium.

Key words: Autograft; conjunctiva; pterygium; recurrence