Pterygium

A pterygium is a triangular-shaped growth of fleshy tissue on the white of the eye that eventually extends over the cornea. This growth may remain small or grow large enough to interfere with vision. A pterygium can often develop from a pinguecula.

​

Some pterygia may become red and swollen on occasion, and some may become large or thick, making you feel like you have something in your eye. If a pterygium is large enough, it can actually affect the shape of the cornea’s surface, leading to astigmatism.

​

It is not entirely clear what causes pterygia and pingueculae to develop. Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is believed to be a factor in the development of these growths. Other factors believed to cause pterygia and pingueculae are dry eye and environmental elements such as wind and dust.

​

If you have a pterygia and it is causing discomfort, has grown over your cornea (the window) of your eye or is bothering you, you should be assessed so that you can decide whether it should be surgically removed. The surgery is done in theatre as a Day case. Dr Aleksic prefers to use tissue glue to secure the graft over the area where the pterygia was. This technique causes much less discomfort than sutures/ stitches.