Purpose  

To compare the outcomes of use of intraoperative 0.02% mitomycin-C (MMC) and limbal-conjunctival autograft (LCAG) for treatment of primary pterygia.

Material and method  

One hundred and twelve eyes of eighty patients with primary pterygia were randomly treated either by intraoperative 0.02% MMC for 5 min or LCAG. Recurrence (defined as fibrovascular tissue invading the cornea >1.5 mm) and complications were evaluated.

Results  

Fifty-two eyes were included in the MMC group and sixty in the LCAG group. Recurrence occurred in three eyes (5.76%) in the MMC group and in two eyes (3.33%) in the LCAG group. This difference between recurrence in the two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Incidence of complications such as conjunctival cysts, symblephara, conjunctival hyperemia, and subconjunctival hemorrhage was similar in both groups (P > 0.05) whereas corneal epithelial defects (CED), irritation, lacrimation, and photophobia were more common in the MMC group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion  

Simple excision then intraoperative use of 0.02% (MMC) for 5 min or LCAG are similarly successful in the treatment of primary pterygia. Some complications, for example irritation, lacrimation, photophobia, and CED are more common when simple excision is followed by MMC.