Pronounced ‘ter-ig-ium’, this is a benign growth of tissue that develops on the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye, and may extend onto the cornea.
Sometimes called surfer’s eye, pterygium is a growth of pink tissue that spreads across the conjunctiva. It’s not a serious condition but can cause irritation and swelling and may affect your vision.
Pterygium is just one of the reasons it’s important to protect your eyes from sunlight and irritants. Its most common cause is long-term exposure to UV light, as well as dust and dryness. This is one of the reasons it’s sometimes referred to as surfer’s eye — surfers spend a lot of time in the sun exposing their eyes to the elements.
While the condition isn’t serious, it can be uncomfortable and may eventually affect your eyesight. Protecting your eyes from UV light using the right sunglasses can help minimise your risk of many eye conditions.
Pterygium surgery is a surgical procedure performed to remove a pterygium, which is a fleshy growth that can develop on the conjunctiva.
During the procedure, the surgeon will first numb the eye with local anaesthesia. The pterygium is then carefully removed. To prevent a pterygium returning, a technique called conjunctival autografting may be used. In this technique, a small amount of healthy tissue is taken from elsewhere in the eye and is transplanted into the area where the pterygium is. This helps to protect the exposed area, reducing the risk of recurrence.
After surgery, you may feel some discomfort, tearing, and sensitivity to light. It is important to follow the post-operative care instructions provided by the Regency Eye Hospital.
