AIM:To investigate clinical effect of corneal limbal stem cell transplantation for treatment of pterygium.METHODS:Totally 45 eyes of 40 patients with pterygium were treated by limbal stem cell transplantation.Postoperative corneal epithelial healing,corneal neovas-cularization and pterygium recurrence were observed.RESULTS:The patients were followed up for 5-48 months.42 eyes had clear and smooth graft,no abnormal proliferation of pterygium tissue;3 eyes recurred.Recurrence rate was 7%,the cure rate was 93%.CONCLUSION:The limbal stem cell transplantation for treatment of pterygium can prevent its recurrence with the advantage of a low recurrence rate,and it is a safe and effective method.