Recurrence Rate of Pterygium in Suture Less Limbal Autograft Versus Bare Sclera Technique

Purpose:  To compare the recurrence rate of pterygium in patients undergoing suture-less limbal autograft versus patients undergoing bare sclera surgery. Study Design:  Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study:  Institute of Ophthalmology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh from March 2021 to March 2022. Methods:  Patients of either sex, aged ≥20 years, with a diagnosis of primary pterygium were included in the study. Participants were allocated into two groups. Group A underwent pterygium excision using the bare sclera technique, whereas Group B received a suture less limbal autograft. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for three months to assess recurrence. Data were collected using a self-designed proforma and analyzed with SPSS version 20. The Chi-square test was applied to compare recurrence rates between the two groups, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results:  The average age of patients in group A was 49.58 ± 12.54 years, while in group B was 45.44 ± 9.67 years. Group A consisted of 17 males (47.2%) and 19 females (52.8%), whereas Group B included 19 males (52.8%) and 17 females (47.2%). At three-month follow-up, pterygium recurrence was observed in 32 cases (88.9%) in group A and in 3 cases (8.3%) of group B(p < 0.05). Conclusion:  The suture-less limbal autograft is statistically and clinically more effective in preventing recurrence than the bare sclera technique.