Objective  To observe the effect of pterygium excision combined with autologous limbal stem cell transplantation for patients with pterygium.

  Methods  A total of 96 patients with pterygium in our hospital were selected as study objects and divided into study group (n=48) and control group (n=48) according to different surgical procedures. The control group underwent pterygium excision and the study group underwent pterygium excision combined with autologous limbal stem cell transplantation. The tear film rupture time and astigmatism before operation, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after operation were compared, and postoperative complication rate and recurrence rate were compared between the two groups.

  Results  The tear film rupture time of the study group was longer than that of the control group at 1 week postoperatively, and was shorter in the control group than that before operation(P < 0.05); the tear film rupture time of the two groups at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively was longer than that before the operation (P < 0.05); the astigmatism at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after operation in both groups was lower than that before operation(P < 0.05); the incidence of postoperative complications in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05); the recurrence rate of the study group was 4.35%, which was significantly lower than 22.22% of the control group(P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Pterygium excision combined with autologous limbal stem cell transplantation for patients with pterygium has significant efficacy, which can prolong the tear film rupture time, reduce astigmatism, decrease the recurrence rate and complication rate.