A pterygium is a wedge-shaped fibrovascular growth of the conjunctiva, also known as the surface tissue of the white of the eye that extends onto the cornea. Pterygia are benign lesions that can be found on either side of the cornea and may be caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. Pterygium surgery removes pterygia from the eye in more serious cases.
Though small pterygia can be treated with steroid eye drops when they flare up, more serious lesions on the cornea may need to be surgically removed.
Removal will likely be advised if the pterygium is growing far enough onto the cornea to threaten your line of vision. Pterygia may also be removed if they cause a persistent foreign body sensation in the eye, or if they are constantly inflamed and irritating. In addition, some pterygia pull on the surface of the cornea and change the refractive properties of the eye, causing astigmatism, or distorted vision.
Pterygia are often asymptomatic, and many do not require immediate treatment. However, if they become red and inflamed or bother people due to persistent foreign body sensations in the eye, surgery will be performed.
At Somerset Eye, pterygium surgery is performed under sedation and takes about 40 minutes. An ophthalmologist will numb and clean the patient’s eye before carefully dissecting away the pterygia. In order to prevent regrowth of the pterygium, the ophthalmologist will remove some of the surface tissue of the same eye and suture it onto the bed of the excised pterygium. After the procedure, the ophthalmologist may recommend some steroid eye drops for several weeks to decrease the inflammation and prevent regrowth of the pterygium.
No-stitch or autograph pterygium surgery can also be performed under either local or general anaesthetic. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and involves closing the wound left by the removed pterygia with tissue from underneath the eyelid. This is glued in place with a modern tissue adhesive called TISSEEL. After about a week the adhesive dissolves with no residue at all.
Typically, this procedure is painless, but you may experience discomfort afterwards.
It can take one to two months to fully recover from pterygium surgery.
You may experience minor pain and irritation for up to four weeks after surgery. Our doctors at Somerset Eye will guarantee that any discomfort symptoms after the procedure will be treated.
