What is a Pterygium?
A transparent layer of thin tissue called the conjunctiva covers the white sclera of the eye. When this tissue undergoes sun related changes and becomes more fiberous and opaque in nature, a pterygium forms. This is a benign change in appearance of the conjunctiva which is present in many patients. The chances of formation increase with age and sun exposure. Normally, it is monitored every 6-12 months based on its size.
Why Surgery?
Though a pterygium is benign, it tends to grow over time and eventually can start to cover the clear front part of the eye, the Cornea. If the pterygium grows onto the central part of the cornea, it can obstruct our visual axis and decrease vision. This is why it is beneficial to remove a pterygium once it displays growth.
The Procedure
Pterygium surgery is an outpatient procedure done under mild sedation which takes up to an hour to perform. The eye is numbed with a numbing injection which paralyzes movement and results in no pain during surgery.
May techniques have been used over the years to remove this growth. One of the more popular techniques involves removing the pterygium tissue with surgical scissors and then using surgical glue to fill the defect with a graft.
The graft used can be conjunctiva that is obtained from another part of the eye or a donor tissue called amniotic membrane. Both techniques have similar success in removal and quick recovery. The use of glue rather than stitches also decrease post-operative discomfort and increases the rate of healing.
After Surgery
The patient goes home with an eye patch on which is removed by the technician in our office the next day. Various eye drops are used to promote healing over a period of 2-3 weeks. Vision is normal from the beginning, and the redness and irritation resolve quickly over the first week.
The patient is usually seen at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery. The chances of recurrence are much lower with the use of a graft, but a number of patients can still get another pterygium at the same site in the future.
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