Pterygium


What is a Pterygium?

A pterygium as is a wedge-shaped, benign growth extending from the conjunctiva onto the cornea. Pterygia are most commonly found in people who live in the southern United States especially in Texas. It is frequently found in people who spend much of their time outdoors and have excess exposure to UV light. With the prolonged exposure to UV light, conjunctival tissue thickens and slowly creeps onto the corneal surface. Dust and dryness are also believed to exacerbate pterygia, and this makes it a common problem in certain Texas climates.

Onset and symptoms of pterygia are gradual. Many patients experience chronic inflammatory symptoms from pterygia including eye redness, foreign body sensations, and/or pain.

Artificial tears sometimes alleviate the symptoms of a pterygium . Topical NSAIDs and/or steroids may be also be used to manage the discomfort. As pterygia become larger and more elevated, patients typically experience more dryness, more contact lens intolerance, and even a gradual loss of vision.

No-Stitch Surgical Removal

To fully remove a pterygium, Eye Excellence performs a state-of-the-art surgical procedure using fibrin tissue adhesive "glue" for no-stitch pterygium removal surgery. During the procedure, the patient is mildly sedated and the eye is completely numbed. After the pterygium is removed, the eye gradually returns to normal in about 2-3 weeks.

Surgical Risk

The main risks of pterygium excision are infection, scarring, and recurrence. Risk of infection is very low at less than 1 in 1000. At Eye Excellence, our advanced pterygium removal technique using fibrin tissue adhesive yields recurrence for less than 1% of patients.

Preventing Pterygium

One of the best methods for preventing a pterygium is to wear UV 400 rated sunglasses when outdoors in sunny conditions. Wearing a large hat with a large brim provides additional protection.