Pterygium
Pterygium is a wing shaped fleshy abnormal growth seen on bulbar conjunctiva (whitish part) of eye. It may go unnoticed when it is small in size.
“If a Pterygium Grows Large Enough To Cover Your Cornea, It Can Affect Your Vision.”
Causes of Pterygium
Excessive chronic exposure to sun rays, dust and minor trauma may be responsible for Pterygium growth. It occurs more often in people living in hot, dry, sunny region and spent most of the time outdoors have a higher chance of developing it and also whose jobs expose them to ultra-violet light (e.g.: farmers, fishermen, arc welders etc.).
Symptoms of Pterygium
It doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, the symptoms are usually mild. Common symptoms include:
- Eye Redness and Swelling of the Conjunctiva, mostly while the Pterygium grows
- A Yellow Spot or Bump on the White of Your Eyes
- Blurry Vision
- Dry, Itchy, Burning Eyes
Avoiding Pterygium
If you have had a Pterygium at least once before, try to avoid the things that causes these abnormal growths. Here are some ways:
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eye from ultra-violet light
- Protect your eyes from dust by wearing glasses or goggles
- User artificial tears when your eyes are dry
Treatment
There are number of different treatments for Pterygium. In early stage, the discomfort, redness or swelling from a Pterygium, can be cured by lubricating or steroid eye drops.
Normally, Pterygium surgery will only be undertaken if the Pterygium grows large enough to cause problems or has troublesome symptoms, or is affecting your vision, upon recommendation with your Ophthalmologist.
FAQ about Pterygium
General
Usually not but it may lead to blindness if it is not treated when it is small. Excessive Pterygium growth can cover cornea and lead to disturbance in vision.
It is a kind of degenerative changes of conjunctiva but it is always good to have histopathological evaluation to rule out any cancerous growth in Pterygium.
(a)Surgery is indicated when Pterygium is encroaching into the cornea,
(b) patient complains of excessive foreign body sensation and discomfort,
(c) suspicion of cancerous growth and
(d) cosmetic reason.
There are more than 500 techniques to perform Pterygium surgery but most common techniques are
(a) Bare Sclera Technique
(b) Pterygium excision with Amniotic Membrane Graft
(c) Pterygium Excision with Conjunctival Auto Graft
(d) Pterygium Extended Removal Followed by Extended Conjunctival Transplantation (PERFECT).
Pterygium extended removal followed by extended conjunctival transplantation (PERFECT) is the best surgical option available for Pterygium.
Recurrence of Pterygium is one of the main complications associated with Pterygium surgery whereas with PERFECT technique recurrence is less than 2 percent in 1-year follow-up with very good cosmetic results.
It is good to have one anesthetic local injection for Pterygium surgery as it is a painful procedure under topical anesthesia.
