Pterygium/Pinguecula Surgery

What is a pterygium?

A pterygium is a pink, fleshy, wedged-shaped growth of tissue on the whites of the eye that encroaches onto the cornea. It typically grows from the inner corner of the eye although it may also grow from the outer corner or from both sides of the eye at the same time. The growth is benign, but if left untreated, a pterygium may grow across the cornea, affecting vision.

What is the difference between a pterygium and a pinguecula?

A pterygium and pinguecula are both benign growths on the whites of the eye (conjunctiva). A pinguecula is a yellowish, raised growth on the conjunctiva. A pterygium is a fleshy overgrowth of the conjunctiva that extends from the whites of the eye onto the cornea. It can remain small, or may grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. When this happens, your vision may be affected.

What causes a pterygium to develop?

Pterygia are caused by long-term exposure to sun, wind or dust. Therefore, they are more commonly seen in people who live in hot, dry climates or those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Symptoms of a pterygium/pinguecula

If small, it may not cause you any symptoms or discomfort. It may also cause the following symptoms:

• Grittiness or a constant feeling of having something in the eye
• Irritation and itchy eyes
• Stinging or burning sensation
• Red eyes
• Dry, uncomfortable eyes
• Blurred vision if the pterygium grows across the cornea

Treatment

If you have a small, stable pterygium or pinguecula that is not bothering you, you may choose to leave it untreated. If a pterygium or pinguecula becomes inflamed and painful, you may be prescribed a short course of steroid drops to reduce the inflammation.

However, if your eyes are constantly red, uncomfortable or irritated; or if the pterygium is large enough to cause vision problems, surgical intervention is usually required. It is preferable to remove a pterygium before it grows across the cornea as it may scar the cornea and cause permanent vision problems. A pterygium or pinguecula may also be removed for cosmetic reasons. Some patients may seek surgical removal as they are conscious of the appearance of these growths on the eye.

A pterygium causing significant astigmatism will also require removal prior to cataract surgery.

Pterygium surgery

Surgery involves peeling off the pterygium and harvesting a small piece of healthy conjunctiva from under the eyelid. This conjunctival graft is then glued onto the gap where the pterygium had been removed. This technique, known as conjunctival autografting, reduces the chance that your pterygium will grow back.