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Adjunctive amniotic membrane in pterygium surgery reduces recurrence

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SAN DIEGO — Combining subconjunctival amniotic membrane with conventional conjunctival autografting in pterygium surgery may reduce recurrence, a speaker said here.

John A. Hovanesian, MD, an OSN Cornea/External Disease Board Member, showed results of pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft alone and combined with amniotic membrane (AmbioDry2, IOP Inc.) placed in the subconjunctival space surrounding the graft.

Patients with conjunctival autograft alone had a recurrence rate of 8%, while those with adjunctive amniotic membrane had a recurrence rate of less than 1%, Dr. Hovanesian said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.

"Recurrence of pterygium arises from the subconjunctival Tenon's fascia surrounding the excision site, not from the scleral bed where the pterygium was removed," he said. "Placing amniotic membrane around the excision site, where it probably remains for several months after surgery, takes advantage of the well-proven anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of this material."

• Disclosure: Dr. Hovanesian receives research support from IOP Inc.