AIM: To study the effect of pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell on visual acuity and refractive status.

METHODS:A total of 120 cases(178 eyes)pterygium cases were enrolled in our hospital from March 2012 to May 2014 and divided into observation group(60 cases, 90 eyes)and control group(60 cases, 88 eyes)according to different treatment methods. Patients in observation group received pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation, those in control group received pterygium excision. Vision levels, astigmatism degrees were compared. The effects of age, working environment and medial rectus muscle insertion distance from corneal limbus on postoperative visual acuity were analyzed.

RESULTS:Before operation, acuity levels and astigmatism degrees of two groups had no difference(P>0.05); 1, 2, 3, 4wk after operation, visual acuity in observation group were higher than that in control group(0.49±0.09 vs 0.34±0.07, 0.76±0.11 vs 0.42±0.04, 0.95±0.14 vs 0.59±0.08, 1.09±0.18 vs 0.74±0.10), astigmatism degrees were lower than that in control group(0.96±0.12 vs 1.85±0.28, 0.68±0.08 vs 1.51±0.23, 0.54±0.08 vs 1.23±0.19, 0.42±0.07 vs 0.91±0.14); visual acuity of patients older than 45 years old, indoor work, medial rectus muscle insertion distance from corneal limbus 3-5 mm were higher, astigmatism degrees were lower.

CONCLUSION:Pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation is helpful to improve visual acuity and astigmatism degree; recovery of visual acuity is affected by age, working environment and medial rectus muscle insertion distance from corneal limbus.