Publication Exclusive: Surgeon details pterygium surgery technique with auto-limbal conjunctival grafting

Pterygium surgery may be required to improve vision or cosmetic appearance or for symptomatic relief, and often it is challenging both intraoperatively and postoperatively. When pterygium and cataract surgeries are staged as two separate procedures, the significant optical benefits of first performing pterygium excision, including decreased corneal topographic astigmatism and improvement in aberrations, can contribute to better IOL calculations and optimal vision following the second stage cataract surgery.However, a major surgical challenge and one of the most common complications of pterygium surgery is postoperative recurrence. Although an expanding list of surgical techniques is currently available, there is no consensus on a single ideal surgical procedure. The spectrum of procedures includes pterygium excision (wide excision or mini excision), usually combined with various grafting techniques, use of conjunctival autograft or amniotic membrane, and attachment to the ocular surface to cover the exposed bare sclera using tissue adhesives or sutures, with or without the use of mitomycin C or 5-fluorouracil.