Preventing conjunctival autograft inversion in pterygium surgery.

Abstract

Surgeon-dependent variables influencing pterygium surgical outcome using the conjunctival autograft technique include conjunctival retraction as a consequence of subepithelial contracting fibrous tissue, and autograft inversion causing necrosis and sloughing of the graft. A simple and useful technique of pterygium excision is described, which helps to ensure the correct surface and linear orientations of the conjunctival autograft, and also defines the end point of adequate excision of the subepithelial connective tissue. This simple technique of defining the anterior surface and the centrifugal orientation with the letter "G" marked on the graft prevents reverse orientation of the graft.