Pterygium is a prevalent degenerative ophthalmic diseases, but the surgical treatment is associated with high recurrence rate. Thus, the most appropriate surgical procedure is still controversial. The present study aimed to compare the recurrence rate and surgical complications of free conjunctival autograft (CAT) and amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).

In this prospective study, 60 patients with primary pterygium were randomly assigned to two groups of CAT or AMT and were compared in terms of recurrence rate, mean healing time of epithelial defects, mean level of inflammation and complications.

The mean age of patients was 48.98 ± 9.8 (27-71) years; 73.3% were male and 26.7% female. The demographics of the groups were not statistically different (P>0.05). Patients were followed for an average of 12.6 ± 1.3 months. The recurrence rate in AMT group was 6.7% and in CAT group was 3.3% (P>0.05). Mean inflammation was higher in AMT group in the first, third, and sixth postoperative month (P<0.05). Mean healing time of epithelial defects in AMT group was 2.5 ± 0.572 days and in CAT group was 2.67 ± 0.479 days (P = 0.173). No significant complications were observed during or after both surgical methods.

The results of the present study indicated no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate and epithelial healing between CAT and AMT and suggest both procedures as appropriate choices for pterygium surgery.