Objective: To compare the recurrence rate of cryopreserved amniotic membrane (cryo AM) grafts and dry amniotic membrane (dry AM) grafts after primary pterygium excision combined with intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) using fibrin glue technique at 1 year follow up.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in 39 subjects with primary pterygium that were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups, 19 eyes in the cryo AM group, and 20 eyes in the dry AM group. In patients with primary pterygium underwent pterygium excision, 0.02% MMC was applied to the scleral bed. Amniotic membrane was attached using the fibrin glue technique. The measured outcome was recurrence rate at 1 year.

Results: The recurrence rate after pterygium excision with cryo AM and dry AM grafts were 5.26% and 5% respectively. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the 2 groups (p = 0.839).

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence that dry AM grafts were effective as cryo AM grafts in adjunctive of pterygium excision to reduce the post operative recurrence.