Comparative Efficacy of Fibrin Glue and Autologous Serum in Fixating Conjunctival Autografts during Pterygium Surgery

Background and Aim: Pterygia that encroach upon the cornea can lead to significant visual disturbances, primarily through the development of astigmatism and obstruction of the visual axis, in addition to causing cosmetic concerns. The current medical management of this condition has proven to be inadequate, necessitating surgical intervention for effective resolution. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of fibrin glue against the patient’s own serum as a fixation agent. Materials and Methods: The research took place within the Ophthalmology department of a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute in India, spanning a period of one year. A total of one hundred patients diagnosed with primary pterygium were chosen using a convenient sampling method. The study participants were categorised into two distinct groups: group A received treatment with fibrin glue, while group B underwent the autologous serum technique. The conjunctival autograft was harvested from the superior temporal bulbar conjunctiva to effectively cover the scleral bed created by the excision of the pterygium. Results: The most frequently observed complication in both groups was the loss of grafts. In group A, the observation was made in 20 eyes, representing 40%, while in group B, only 2 eyes, or 4%, were noted. The observed difference reached statistical significance, with a p-value of less than 0.05. The recurrence rate was notably higher in the group treated with fibrin glue, with 12 cases (24%) compared to 8 cases (16%) in the autologous serum group. However, this difference did not reach statistical significance. In our analysis, the average surgical duration for Group A was recorded at 23.05 minutes, while Group B exhibited a longer average of 35.01 minutes. A notable difference was observed between the two groups, reaching statistical significance. Conclusion: The use of autologous serum for the fixation of conjunctival autografts presents a safe and promising alternative to the fibrin glue technique.