LIMBAL-CONJUNCTIVAL AUTOGRAFT TRANSPLANTATION FOR PRIMARY AND RECURRENTPTERYGIA

Abstract

Pterygium, a fibrovascular overgrowth of bulbar conjunctiva over the cornea, is a well-known disease of the ocular surface. It is seen in all parts of the world, but more common near the equator in tropical and subtropical countries I I in the so-called "pterygium belt". Egypt is one of the areas in I which pterygium is prevalent being present in the temperate I zone, within 30 degrees north of the equator. I

I The most effective therapy for pterygium is surgery. I Numerous surgical techniques have been proposed for I pterygium removal, but none was universally accepted because I of the high recurrence rate. The reported frequency of i recurrence for primary pterygium varies widely for different I procedures, ranging from 24 - 67% of cases after simple excision by the bare sclera technique to O - 4 7o/o of cases after excision combined with conjunctiva! autografting or adjuvant therapy.

Recurrences may grow aggressively, rapidly reaching and even overtaking the size of the original pterygium. Treatments such as radiation therapy, the use of antimetabolites, or the use of antineoplastic agents have succeeded in diminishing the rate of recurrences to 5 - 12 %.

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