PTERYGIUM SURGERY

A pterygium is a growth that can occur on the cornea – the front, clear, dome shaped part of the eye. It is usually secondary to UV light and wind exposure, hence its nick-name, “surfers eye”. On occasion, pterygiums can become inflamed and cause eye irritation, pain and tearing. They can also distort the cornea and cause irregular astigmatism. If the pterygium is having a significant impact on vision or quality of life we can remove the pterygium. This is done in the operating room with light sedation and topical numbing medication. Healing usually takes several weeks and it can be normal for the eye to have foreign body sensation, tearing, mild pain while the eye heals. To reduce these symptoms we prescribe drops to use for several weeks to help the eye heal.