Pterygium

A pterygium is a form of scar tissue with blood vessels, which grows towards the cornea, then into the cornea. It can be a source of irritation and redness, which can flare up from time to time, it can be a cosmetic problem, and occasionally it can lead to visual distortion by altering corneal shape. In doing this it can cause irregular corneal astigmatism. For a pterygium to become bad enough to cause visual distortion is unusual, as they mostly never proceed to this level. Sometimes a pterygium can be confused with a type of low grade skin cancer, which can occur and look a little like a pterygium.

How is a pterygium treated?

In most cases, a pterygium is better off without surgery. Decongestant eyedrops can be used to make the eye less red, and artificial tear drops can make the eye more comfortable when it flares up from time to time. If these remedies allow the eye to remain comfortable and cosmetically acceptable, then surgery is not necessary. Reducing exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet light), wind, and dust by wearing protective sunglasses can also help to reduce irritation to a pterygium.

Surgery for pterygium

If the pterygium needs to be removed, this can be done surgically. See the section on Pterygium Surgery.