LA Cornea Specialist

Pterygium (Click here for SPANISH version)

A pterygium is a triangular or wing-shaped growth of tissue that grows across the cornea.  Although the exact cause is unknown, it is usually associated with long term exposure to sunlight, particularly UV light.  Dry environments can also play a role in their development as well.  Basically, the lining of the “whites of the eyes” is known as conjunctiva.  A pterygium is simply the abnormal growth of conjunctiva onto the cornea.  A pterygium will usually arise on the nasal side of the eyeball and grow across the cornea.  Less commonly they can arise from the temporal side, or outer corner of the eye.  When a pterygium is large it can become inflamed and painful.  It can also cause blurry vision because it interferes with the focusing ability of the eye.  In extreme cases, the pterygium can grow completely across the front of the eyeball and lead to significant loss of vision. 

Surgical excision is the treatment of choice when a pterygium begins to threaten one’s vision, and medical treatments such as eyedrops are no longer effective in controlling the discomfort.  The recurrence rate can be high after pterygium surgery in some cases, therefore surgery is not always recommended when a pterygium is small.  At the East West Eye Institute we utilize some of the latest surgical techniques to minimize the likelihood of recurrence after pterygium surgery.

Although most patients do not describe significant pain after pterygium surgery, new advances allow us to perform this procedure without stitches, ensuring that your post operative course will be as comfortable as possible. 

Prevention is always the best method to address a pterygium and this includes the use of sunglass with UV blocking ability when outdoors, avoiding dry dusty environments, and the frequent instillation of artificial tears when the eyes feel dry.  However, should prevention fail and the need for pterygium surgery arise, be assured that the doctors of the East West Eye Institute utilize the latest surgical techniques to minimize recurrence rates and ensure a comfortable, quick recovery.

COSMETIC PROCEDURES