What is Pterygium

A pterygium is a growth of the conjunctiva (membrane covering the white part of the eye), over the cornea. This benign or noncancerous growth is often shaped like a wedge. A pterygium usually doesn’t cause problems, but it can be removed if it interferes with your vision.

It may occur because of too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and in people who live in warm climates and spend a lot of time outdoors in sunny or windy environments with exposure to pollens, sand and smoke

Symptoms

Common symptoms include

• Redness,
• Blurred vision
• Eye irritation.
• Burning sensation or itchiness.
• Alarge & thick pterygium covering the cornea, can interfere with vision.

Prognosis

Pterygium can sometimes lead to severe scarring of cornea which can cause vision loss.

Diagnosis

Pterygium can be diagnosedsimply by physical examination using a slit lamp and Visual Acuity test. Visual Acuity test is important to know whether Pterygium is causing vision loss or not.

Treatments

• A pterygium usually doesn’t require any treatment unless it’s blocking the vision or causing severe discomfort. A regular eye checkupis needed to see if the growth is causing vision problems.
• Medications : If the pterygium is causing a lot of irritation or redness, eye drops or eye ointments which reduce inflammation can be prescribed.
• Surgery : When pterygium causes a loss of vision because of Astigmatism, surgery is recommended. Surgery can also be done if eye drops or ointments don’t provide relief.

Risk of Surgery – In some cases, a pterygium can grow back after being surgically removed. Medication can be prescribed to reduce the risk of having a pterygium grow back.

 Prevention

Pterygium may be prevented by wearing UV protection sunglasses to shield the eyes from sunlight, wind, and dust.