A pterygium is also known as Surfer's Eye. A pterygium is a growth of tissue on the surface of the eye. It is common in warm, sunny climates, especially in areas around the equator because, like sun-damaged skin, it is caused by exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. Surfing in tropical locations exposes enthusiasts to ultraviolet light on a regular basis. Those who are involved in water sports are more likely to develop pterygiums. They occur more frequently in young males, between the ages of 20 and 40, than in females. A pterygium can be left untreated if there are no symptoms and an ophthalmologist checks it regularly. However, pterygiums can cause symptoms that require surgery.
What is a Pterygium?
A pterygium is a growth of tissue on the conjunctiva, which is
the covering membrane of the eye. When a pterygium develops, the
conjunctiva gets bunch up and starts overgrowing due to the damage
caused by ultraviolet sunlight. It usually begins in the inside corner
of the eye and spreads in a wedge shape toward the cornea, which lies
over the colored part of the eye. It is noncancerous, but may recur when
removed with some surgical procedures.
Who Needs Surgery?
There are several reasons why surgery may be recommended if you
have been diagnosed with a pterygium. The main reason is when the tissue
continues growing and begins to cover the pupil and obstructs your
vision. It can also grow and change the shape of your eye, causing
astigmatism and causing blurry vision. Pterygiums are not necessarily
painful, but they can feel gritty, dry, uncomfortable, and cause
irritation that surgical removal may correct. Another reason for surgery
would be for cosmetic reasons. A pterygium looks thick and yellowish on
the white of the eye, and if it overgrows the cornea it can make the
iris look elliptical instead of round.
What Does the Surgery Involve?
The surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis. A short
procedure to simply remove the overgrowth can take as little as 30 to 45
minutes. In this case, no stitches are used and the conjunctiva is
allowed to grow back naturally with little or no pain. Unfortunately, in
almost half of the cases treated with this procedure, the pterygium
grows back more aggressively than before the removal. When the surgery
involves grafting a patch of tissue into the place where the pterygium
was removed, it is much less likely to recur. If the pterygium does
continue to recur, surgery can be followed by a course of radiation
therapy shortly after surgery.
What is Recovery Like for Pterygium Surgery?
Recovery from pteryrium surgery depends on the surgical
procedure used. If it was a simple procedure, all that is usually
required is wearing an eye patch for a day or two. Sometimes drops are
prescribed for inflammation or to administer antibiotics. If a
conjunctiva patch was done, the sutures or stitches dissolve after the
eye is healed, so suture removal is not necessary. You are advised not
to rub your eyes after surgery, don't wear eye makeup, and no swimming
for two weeks. Otherwise you can return to your regular activities right
away.
When you have been diagnosed with a pterygium, surgery is not
always necessary. Surgery is advised when the pterygium threatens to
affect your eyesight or when conservative treatments have failed. It can
be a relatively simple procedure, but recurrence rates are high unless
grafting is done to replace the tissue. Recovery is quick and you should
be enjoying water sports like swimming and surfing in a few weeks.
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