This is the abnormal growth of the conjunctiva that invades the cornea. It is a geography-dependent disease notably related to solar radiation, very frequent in the equatorial zone. It may be prevented by using sunglasses, but once established, the only definitive treatment is surgical resection.

It is disturbing to know that, after so much time, in the wake of the enormous scientific and technical developments achieved in the last few years and the innumerable surgical techniques developed, the pterygium persists as an objective problem in ophthalmological practice.

This is an ailment whose treatment is patently surgical.
All therapeutic attempts assayed have failed because it is hard to totally and exclusively destroy the mass of subconjuntival connective tissue that makes up the real body of the pterygium.
Frequency of recidivism is between 20 and 40 % with conventional techniques.

Repeated surgical procedures practised on the cornea that attempt to eliminate this conjunctive membranous fold frequently produce loss of tissue and retractile scars, causing greater damage.

Free graft conjunctivoplasty is a process that has been successfully used in the past few years.
It consists of the exhaustive cleaning of the area of the pterygium and the transplant of normal conjunctiva towards the bloody area, where this is desiccated.

Free graft conjunctivoplasty is an effective and safe process basically employed on recidivant pterygium;
however, performing it on the primary offers guarantees of success, since the structures of the anterior segment maintain an intact morphology.

The frequency of recidivism with upper limbus free graft conjunctivoplasty reduces the possibility of recidivism to 0.5-1%.