What is a Pterygium?

A pterygium is a fleshy growth which starts on the conjunctiva and grows across part of the cornea.  It typically develops in individuals who live in hot climates and spend a lot of time outdoors.  It likely represents a response to chronic dryness and ultraviolet exposure.  When a pterygium becomes red or irritated, eye drops or ointments may be used to help reduce the inflammation.  If these traditional treatments are not sufficient to reduce symptoms or if the pterygium is large enough to threaten sight, it can be removed by surgical excision.  After the pterygium is excised there is still a chance of regrowth.  To reduce the chance of regrowth there are several techniques that have been successful.  Conjunctival auto-grafting is a technique that uses tissue from a different part of the patient’s own eye to cover the area of the excised pterygium and amniotic membrane transplantation uses tissue acquired from the innermost layer of a human placenta.  In addition to these treatment options, recurrence rates can be further reduced by protecting the eyes from sunlight with the proper ultraviolet protection and using lubrication when exposed to dry conditions.