To compare the efficacy and safety of fibrin glue and sutures for amniotic membrane transplantation after wide excision of primary pterygium.

Forty-three eyes of 37 patients underwent amniotic membrane transplantation for primary pterygium with a minimum follow-up period of six months. Twenty-three eyes of 18 patients underwent surgery with fibrin glue and 20 eyes of 19 patients underwent surgery with sutures. Recurrence rates, complications, operating time were evaluated.

With a minimum of six-month of follow-up, fibrovascular tissue in the excised area, not invading the cornea (conjunctival recurrence), was noted in four eyes (17.4%) and fibrovascular tissue invading the cornea (corneal recurrence) was noted in two eyes (8.7%) in the fibrin glue group. Conjunctival recurrence was noted in five eyes (25%) and corneal recurrence was noted in one eye (5%) in the suture group. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rates between the two groups. Mean operating time in the fibrin glue group (25.2±3.5 minutes) was significantly shorter than in the suture group (40.5±3.6 minutes) (p=0.001, Students t -test). Complications included sub-amniotic membrane hemorrhage in three eyes (13%), and granuloma in one eye (4.3%) in the fibrin glue group, sub-amniotic membrane hemorrhage in four eyes (20%), granuloma in three eyes (15%), and wound dehiscence in one eye (5%) in the suture group.

Using fibrin glue instead of sutures in amniotic membrane transplantation after wide excision of pterygium can be considered an effective treatment with shorter operating time and fewer complications, although there is no significant difference in recurrence rates.