AIM: To compare the effect of primary pterygium excision using several surgeries.

METHODS: A total of 206 eyes of primary pterygium were selected and all underwent pterygium excision. They were divided into 4 groups. Group A with 50 eyes using simple pterygium excision. Group B with 47 eyes using simple pterygium excision and mitomycin C(MMC). Group C with 52 eyes using simple pterygium excision and amniotic membrane transplantation combined with MMC. Group D with 57 eyes using autologous corneal limbus stem cells transplantation. Postoperative follow-up was 2 years.

RESULTS: The recurrence rate was remarkably different between group A and the other three groups.The recurrence rate in group B was lower than that in group A, but higher than the other groups. The recurrence rates among the last two groups had no significant difference. Average surgery time was 13 minutes in the group A, which was greatly shorter than other groups. Average surgery time of the last two groups was a little longer. Most recurrences occurred within 12 months.

CONCLUSION: MMC can reduce the recurrence rate of simple pterygium excision. Pterygium surgeries including free autologous conjunctival grafting and amniotic membrane transplantation are associated with fewer recurrences.