Conditions
Pterygium
What is Pterygium?
Pterygium (surfer’s eye) is a growth on the cornea. While not usually a serious condition, pterygium has the potential to lead to astigmatism or to distort and reduce your vision if it approaches the pupil center.
Common Questions About Pterygium
What are the symptoms of a pterygium?
Pterygium symptoms include eye redness, irritation, a foreign body sensation, and blurred vision if the growth approaches the pupil.
What causes a pterygium?
Pterygium is most commonly attributed to sun exposure and seems to be most prevalent in people who live in tropical climates or in those who spend significant amounts of time exposed to sunlight. It’s typically seen in individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 and is likely to affect men more than women.
Significant risk factors for pterygium are believed to include:
- Prolonged UV light exposure
- Dry eye
- Irritants like dust and wind
What surgical technique is used by most NVISION surgeons?
NVISION surgeons typically remove the pterygium and use a free conjunctival graft with glue or glue and dissolvable sutures. We also sometimes use amniotic membranes.
What does a pterygium look like?
A pterygium is a fleshy, pink growth on the white part of the eye that grows over the cornea, the window of the eye that covers the iris, the colored part of the eye.
How fast does a pterygium grow?
Most pterygiums grow slowly, taking years to advance closer to the pupil. It is important to have pterygium surgery before a pterygium becomes too advanced.
Who is most at risk of developing a pterygium?
People at the highest risk of developing a pterygium are those who work outside in the sun without good UV-filtering sunglasses, as well as surfers and field workers exposed to chronic irritation from dust, wind, and sun.
Can a pterygium become cancerous?
Yes, a pterygium can be associated with a cancerous growth in the conjunctiva, although the vast majority of pterygiums are not associated with a cancerous lesion.
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