Pterygium Surgery

What is a pterygium?

A pterygium is a noncancerous growth on your conjunctiva, which is the clear tissue that covers the white part of your eye over the cornea. Often shaped like a wedge, it doesn't cause any problems on its own, but depending on its location on your eye, it can sometimes contribute to vision issues.

What are the symptoms of a pterygium?

Most pterygiums don’t cause symptoms and don’t need treatment. Mild symptoms include:

• Redness
• Blurred vision
• Irritation of the eye
• Itchiness
• Burning sensation in your eye

If a pterygium gets too large, however, it can feel like you have something stuck in your eye. In some cases, a pterygium can get large enough to cover your cornea, which can make it difficult to see properly. 

What causes a pterygium?

It’s not known what, exactly, causes a pterygium, but it does occur more frequently in some populations than in others.

Pterygiums are more commonly seen in people who are frequently exposed to pollen, sand, smoke, and wind. They also tend to affect people who live in warm climates and are outside in sunny or windy environments for significant stretches of time.

These correlations have led some to propose that pterygiums might be caused by overexposure to ultraviolet light.

What is pterygium surgery?

If you have a pterygium that’s particularly irritating or is interfering with your vision, you might want to have it removed. Texas Eye Doctors can remove your pterygium with a minimally invasive surgery that takes less than 45 minutes. 

Your ophthalmologist first sedates you, numbs your eyes, and cleans the areas around your surgery site. Next, they remove the pterygium and some of its connected conjunctiva tissue. Finally, they use sutures or fibrin glue to graft membrane tissue onto the area where the pterygium once was. 

The surgery is fairly easy and low-risk, but since it requires sedation, you need to arrange for transportation after the surgery. Your doctor gives you an eyepatch or pad to wear to prevent infection and keep you more comfortable.

Your eye completely heals within a few weeks or months, during which time your doctor provides you with detailed aftercare instructions on how to keep your eye clean and when you need to come back for a follow-up visit. 

Improve your vision and comfort with pterygium surgery today by calling the office or booking a visit online with Texas Eye Doctors.