We evaluated a combination of intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) and amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for treating recurrent pterygia.

We retrospectively analyzed 40 eyes of 39 patients with recurrent pterygia who underwent AMT from December 2007 to July 2015 and who were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months. In all, 22 eyes received intraoperative MMC (group A) and 18 did not (group B). Recurrence rates and complications were compared between the two groups.

Conjunctival recurrence was noted in two and corneal recurrence was noted in four eyes of group A (27.3%); the figures for group B were four and three (38.9%). These recurrence rates were not significantly different ( p = 0.545). In five cases with preoperative symblepharon, this condition recurred when MMC was not used (two eyes) but not when MMC was used (three eyes). No major complications such as necrotizing scleritis, scleromalacia, or corneal ulcer were observed in either group after surgery.

Intraoperative adjunct MMC therapy did not significantly inhibit recurrence after AMT for treating recurrent pterygia but may reduce the recurrence rate of symblepharon.