Clinical Ophthalmology (Dec 2018)
Glue and glide: a novel technique for pterygium conjunctival autograft
Abstract
Michael J Tappin,1 Sara Sanchez-Tabernero,1,2 Francesco Sabatino1,31Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, UK; 2Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 3Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Ashford, UKAbstract: Conjunctival autograft adhesion with fibrin glue has gained rapid popularity in pterygium excision surgery and is now the technique of choice in many centers worldwide. It has enabled a suture-free technique, reducing surgical time and postoperative pain.1 However, the adhesive’s components form a fibrin clot 10 seconds after mixing, and in this time, the surgeon must complete glue application, grabbing of the instruments and adequate placement of the conjunctival patch. This easy and new technique explains how separate application of glue components on the receiving site and cornea with subsequent sliding of graft results in even mixing of the components on site. It enables the surgeon to spend all 10 seconds in adjusting the position of the conjunctival autograft, resulting in an easier and more precise surgery.Keywords: fibrin glue, pterygium surgery, conjunctival graft
