A pterygium is a wing-shaped growth that crosses over from the white part of the eye onto the cornea or over the colored part of the eye. If the growth is restricted to the white part of the eye it is called a pinguecula. Over time it is possible for the pinguecula to become a pterygium if it grows. They are typically located on the inside or nasal corner of the eye. These growths are associated with increased sun exposure and more commonly occur in people who spend a lot of time outdoors. The outdoor time may be related to work or playtime activities such as tennis, or water activities. A pterygium usually grows slowly toward the center of the cornea. They can be a source of redness and irritation. People who have them in both eyes can be afflicted with chronic redness causing others to wonder if they’ve had enough sleep or worse, if they’ve been drinking. A pterygium is thickened tissue which changes the surface contour of the eye. This elevated tissue is more susceptible to drying out and lubricant drops are helpful. If the pterygium is causing irritation but not affecting eyesight, then the first line of treatment involves lubricant drops. If lubricant drops (artificial tears) don’t provide enough relief, then an antihistamine and vasoconstrictor drop such as Naphcon-A can be helpful. The overuse of this drop or other vasoconstrictors such as Visine however, can sometimes cause problems. These drops should be used only when necessary. The overuse of these drops can themselves result in chronic redness and dependency.
The pterygium can affect the vision by changing the shape of the eye causing astigmatism. It can lead to cornea scarring. If the irritation and redness are not relieved with drops or the pterygium is affecting or starting to affect vision, then it needs to be removed. Pterygia can be removed surgically. This is usually a 30-minute outpatient procedure. The techniques have improved greatly over the years. Whereas, the recurrence rate used to be very high, with current techniques, the chance of the pterygium growing back after surgery is very small. Current techniques have at least a 95 percent success rate. Recovery involves minimal discomfort, but it takes a few weeks for the redness to go away and for the eye to look white again. After pterygium removal, it is important to remember to wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light.
For more information, please call 661-259-3937.