There is a continued search among
ophthalmic surgeons for the optimal
surgical technique for pterygium surgery. This is partly because pterygium
surgery is associated with potential
postoperative complications, including
recurrence of pterygium.
My guests in this corneal dissection
column, John A. Hovanesian, MD,
FACS, and Andrew Behesnilian, BS,
describe their surgical technique of using amniotic membrane transplantation as a “biologic implant” beneath the
normal conjunctiva surrounding the
region where the pterygium is excised
and replaced with a conjunctival autograft. They said the recurrence rate of
5% after pterygium surgery combined
with conjunctival autograft is similar to
the eyes receiving amniotic membrane
transplantation in the region where the
pterygium is excised. The guests are of
the opinion that placing the amniotic
membrane graft in the surgically created subconjunctival space may provide a more prolonged antifibrotic effect, as compared with placing it on the
ocular surface, and may contribute to
a decreased recurrence rate of the pterygium. This technique must be further
examined in larger studies to address
all of the ocular effects of such a procedure.