Pterygium Surgery
Treatment of a pterygium depends on the nature of the symptoms. If the symptoms are mild, no treatment is recommended. However, if you experience severe discomfort and vision interference you may have to undergo surgery.
Pterygium excision with conjunctival auto graft
During this procedure, the pterygium is removed and the resulting gap is filled by surgically transplanting the patient’s own conjunctiva (surface eye tissue). Sutures or fibrin glue holds the graft in place. This graft not only acts as a covering of the affected area, but also as a barrier to recurrence. The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Risks and Complications
A pterygium may recur during the first 12 months following surgery. The recurrence risk associated with a conjunctival auto graft is of the order of 5% to 10%. Other surgical complications include scarring and perforation of the cornea (clear, outer covering of the eye ball) and astigmatism (blurred vision).