Pterygium surgery with lyophilized versus cryopreserved amniotic membrane graft.

Purpose: To evaluate surgical outcomes (recurrence rate, aesthetics and symptoms) of pterygium surgery with two different amniotic membrane preservation approaches - lyophilized (LAM) and cryopreserved (CAM).

Methods: Primary pterygium patients were randomized to either LAM or CAM surgery. Demographic data, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), aesthetic grading (1 to 4), recurrences and complications were recorded over a 6-month follow-up period.

Results: Twenty-nine patients were recruited. Recurrence at month 6 was detected in 11 cases (37.9%) and was more prevalent with CAM grafts, without reaching statistical significance (P=0.196). Aesthetic outcome grading showed no differences between LAM and CAM at month 6 (P=0.124). Aesthetic results were mostly unsatisfactory (grade 3 and 4) without statistical differences between groups (P=0.514). Baseline OSDI was similar in both groups (P=0.888), and it significantly decreased by the last follow-up visit (P<0.001) for both the LAM and CAM groups. This decrease did not significantly differ between amniotic membrane preservation approach surgery groups (P=0.714).

Conclusion: LAM might be considered a legitimate alternative to CAM, showing no inferiority in outcomes, since clinical and aesthetic outcomes were similar for both groups.