Pterygium

A pterygium is a reddish, fleshy tissue that grows in a triangular shape over the cornea. It usually occurs on the inner corner of the eye and grows towards the pupil, though it may also appear on the outer corner. A ptyerygium tends to grow slowly and although relatively harmless, it could grow large enough that it covers the pupil or eye and as a result, interfere with vision. The image on the left shows a patient with a pterygium in her left eye.

Symptoms & Causes of Pterygium
Symptoms of pterygium would include persistent redness, inflammation, foreign body sensation or dry and itchy eyes. In advanced cases, the pytergium could invade the cornea thus affecting vision with the potential of induced astigmatism and corneal scarring. The exact cause for pytergium is unknown however long-term exposure to sunlight, especially Ultraviolet (UV) rays has appeared to be the most likely contributing factor. Hence, pterygium tends to occur more frequently in those who spend a lot of time outdoors and is more commonly found in hot tropical climates and usually within the people in the 20 - 40 age group.

Close Up Images of a Patient with Pterygium

Treatment for Pterygium
When a pterygium becomes red and irritated, eye drops or ointments may be used to smooth the inflammation. But this will not halt the growth. When the pterygium grows too large and begins to threaten sight, we would recommend having it surgically removed. As part of the procedure, a patch of translucent skin called the conjunctiva is used to patch over the site of removal. Chances of a pterygium growing back after removal are low. Though uncommon, a pterygium may return but this usually affects the younger generation who are constantly exposed to sun's UV rays.

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