Surgeries
Pterygia
Eye Disease
Treatment depends on symptoms.
If the pterygium is small it can be safely left, especially
in individuals residing in temperate climates. Eye-drops
or ointments can be prescribed to relieve redness and
irritation. If troublesome pterygia can be excised.
Surgery is painless and performed either under local
or general anesthesia as a day case and without the
need for over-night hospital stay. The surgery takes
approximately half an hour. Indications for removal
include:
• Chronic eye irritation
• Disturbance of vision
• Cosmetic.
The surgery involves removal of the conjunctival tissue
over the cornea. In order to try and prevent re-growth,
this is often combined with the grafting of a free flap
of adjacent conjunctiva over the bare area of the white
of the eye (the sclera). Some surgeons also advocate
the use of other topical therapies such as Mitomycin-C
(a chemical used in cancer treatment) and radiation
to reduce recurrence.
If there has been extensive grow
towards the centre of the cornea a laser procedure may
be required to smooth out surface irregularities and
improve vision. The laser used is called an Excimer
laser and is the same as that used to treat long- and
short-sight.
Typically the eye feels sore following surgery for a
few days. Eye drops in the form of antibiotic/steroid
combinations are administered for a few weeks. Redness
of the eye usually settles after a few months. Recurrence
(re-growth) can occur weeks/months after the surgery
and occurs is about 5-10% of eyes. Patients can usually
resume normal activities a week after surgery.
