Pterygium
(翼状胬肉)
What is pterygium?
A pterygium (pronounced without the "P") is a common non-cancerous, wing-shaped growth of tissue on the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye) that extends onto the cornea. It is sometimes called the "surfer’s eye" because it is commonly associated with excessive sun exposure.
Symptoms of pterygium
- Eye irritation or discomfort
- Redness of the eye
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Cosmetic issue due to the visible growth
Treatment
Mild cases:
- Lubricating eye drops - to reduce eye irritation and discomfort
- Anti-inflammatory eye drops (e.g. steroids) - to treat inflammation (when needed)
- UV protection (e.g. sunglasses) - to slow progression
Severe or symptomatic cases:
- Surgical removal: This is recommended when the patient has considerable eye symptoms (discomfort, blurry vision) or wants to improve the appearance of the eye (due to the unsightly appearance of the pterygium).
The procedure
The procedure is usually performed under local anaesthesia as a day case, and it typically takes around 30-60 minutes to complete the surgery.
- Anaesthesia: The procedure is usually performed under local anaesthetic, meaning you remain awake but feel no pain. However, general anaesthesia may be required occasionally due to patient preference or certain underlying conditions.
- Removal of pterygium: The pterygium is carefully removed from the cornea and the conjunctiva.
- Conjunctival autograft: A healthy conjunctival tissue of the patient's same eye is obtained (usually from the top part of the eye (underneath the eyelid) and is transplanted to cover the wounded conjunctival area (where the pterygium is removed). This approach has been shown to reduce the recurrence of pterygium from 50% to <5%.
- Recovery: Topical steroids and antibiotics eye drops are given to reduce inflammation and risk of infection. The recovery period is usually 3-7 days.
Potential risks
Pterygium surgery is generally very safe. Howver, like any medical procedure, it carries some potential risks. These may include:
- Corneal infection (<1%)
- Corneal scarring (usually in the area that is already affected by the pterygium)
- Loss of vision (uncommon)
- Double vision (rare), if the eye muscle is accidentally damaged during the pterygium removal
- Corneal melt (rare)
- Recurrence of pterygium (<5% in cases that have conjunctival autograft)
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