Pterygium Excision with Suture-Free, Glue-Free Conjunctival Autograft (SFGF CAG): Experience of a Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern India

Background: Pterygium poses various visual problems and needs surgical excision. But due to various complications related to excision ,needs alternative approach to minimise potential hazards. Recently suture free glue free conjunctival autograft has been selected as a novel postoperative interventional approach but research on its efficacy and outcomes are scanty. Aim and Objective: The present work was aimed to evaluate the outcomes of suture-free, glue-free conjunctival autograft (SFGF-CAG) after pterygium excision. Methods: This was a prospective, interventional, hospital-based study on one hundred twenty patients with primary pterygium. One eye of each patient was selected for surgical excision of pterygium with conjunctival autograft with autologous serum from bare sclera, to prevent recurrence. The eye was patched for 24 hours, and treated with topical eye drops (moxifloxacin 0.5 % two weeks, prednisolone acetate 1 %in tapered dose for 4 weeks and carboxymethyl cellulose 0.5 %for4 weeks).The outcomes were assessed in terms of intra operative surgical time, intra and post operative complications and recurrence. Follow-up was done on 1st , 7th , 15th , 30th , 90th , 180th and 360th day. Results: Out of 120 patients, females(n= 82; 68.33 %) outnumbered males (n=38; 31.66 %).11 patients had pterygium in both eyes and 109had unilateral occurrence. Among them pterygium was of Grade I in 35 eyes(29.16 %), Grade II(44 eyes; 36.66 %), Grade III (34 eyes; 28.3 %), and Grade IV (7 eyes; 5.83 %).The mean age of occurrence was 38.92 ± 11.2 years. Foreign body sensation and watering were the chief indication of surgery in 68 patients (56.66 %), Cosmetic blemish in 45 patients (37.50 %) and defective vision in 7 patients (5.83 %).Average surgical time was 7.53 ± 1.35 min. only 3 cases(2.5 %) were found with Graft displacement on 1st post operative day. Conjunctival granuloma was found in 1 case (0.83 %) in 1 week follow up. No recurrence of pterygium was observed in any patient in the operating eye within 1-year follow-up.Conclusion: It is a safe and cost effective technique with no recurrence, low complication rate, and minimal operative time of SFGF CAG. This technique could avoid surgical adjunct and its potential hazards. However, it needs further research on large samples