To compare the recurrence rate and surgical outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) and free conjunctival autograft (CAT) for pterygium surgery.

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 corneal epithelial defects, the mean level of inflammation, and complications.

The mean ± SD age of patients was 48.98 ± 9.8 years (range, 27e71 years). 73.3% were men, and 26.7% were women. The groups did not differ with respect to demographic characteristics (P > 0.05). Patients were followed for an average of 12.6 ± 1.3 months. The recurrence rates were 6.7% and 3.3% in the AMT and CAT groups, respectively (P > 0.05). Comparison of mean inflammation score showed higher inflammation in the AMT group in the first, third, and sixth postoperative month (P < 0.05). Mean healing times of corneal epithelial defects were 2.5 ± 0.572 and 2.67 ± 0.479 days in the CAT and AMT groups, respectively (P  0.173).

No significant complication was observed during or after both surgical methods. No statistically significant difference was seen in visual acuity changes and epithelial healing in CAT and AMT groups, but more inflammation and recurrence rate were seen in AMT group.