To evaluate the efficacy of vertical split conjunctival limbal stem cell autograft in the treatment of double head pterygium.

In this prospective random control study, 32 eyes of 32 patients with double head pterygia were randomly divided into two groups from Jan. 2018 to Jun. 2020 in Suqian First People’s Hospital. There were 16 eyes of 16 cases in each group. The observation group received vertical split conjunctival limbal stem cell autograft transplantation and the control group received amniotic membrane transplantation. All patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery. The efficacy of the two groups were observed.

The visual acuity (UCVA, logMAR) were significantly improved in both groups at 1 month after surgery (t=3.093, 6.260; P=0.007, 0.001). The UCVA was 0.144±0.103 in the observation group and 0.113±0.102 in the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (t=0.860, P=0.397). The complete healing rate of the corneal epithelium had no significant difference between the two groups at 2 weeks after surgery. Schirmer I test (SIt) were significantly improved in observation group at 6 months after surgery (t=-3.221, P=0.006), and the difference was not statistically significant in the control group between before and after surgery (t=-2.449, P=0.083), there was no significant difference in SIt at 6 months after surgery between the two groups (t=1.825, P=0.081). The tear break-up time was significantly improved in both groups at 6 months after surgery (t=-8.384, -5.571; all P<0.001), and the difference was not statistically significant between the two groups (t=-0.172, P=0.865). There were no significant differences in the recurrence and complication between the two groups (P=0.500, 1.000).

The method of vertical split conjunctival limbal stem cell autograft is effective for the treatment of double head pterygium.

Pterygium, double head; Autograft, conjunctival, limbal, vertical split