Pterygium

A pterygium is a wing-shaped or triangular growth of conjunctiva and fibrovascular tissue onto the superficial cornea.
The cause is associated with UV-light exposure, although environmental factors such as exposure to dust, wind, or other irritants that cause chronic inflammation have been implicated.

Treatment with artificial tears can alleviate associated irritation. Likewise, use of wide brim hat, sunglasses or UV coated lenses can slow down its progression.

Excision (surgery) is indicated if the pterygium approaches the visual axis, exhibits rapid growth, causes chronic irritation leading to persistent discomfort, vision distortion and induction of irregular astigmatism, restricted ocular motility, or is cosmetically unacceptable.

The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Anaesthesia is given just before the surgery.

At The Eye Doctors, we perform Pterygium excision with Intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) and conjunctival autograft, thereby reducing the possibility of having a recurrence postoperatively.