Pterygium surgery could give you a new lease of life

Pterygium diagnosis and symptoms of the condition

Our eyes are one of the essential organs in our body. Facing vision concerns, intermittent soreness or loss of sensation can be incredibly challenging and affect our day-to-day lives and mental health. Our eyes also enhance the appearance of our faces, and many patients have surgery due to cosmetic appearances. This month, OCL Vision tells you everything you need to know about Pterygium diagnosis and the benefits of Pterygium surgery to get your vision back and keep it that way.

A pterygium is an abnormal growth of the conjunctiva that covers the transparent layer of the eye, which is the cornea. It is a benign or noncancerous growth and often has a wedge shape. The exact cause is unknown but known risk factors are prolonged exposure to sun ultraviolet (UV) rays, wind, or dust, which can irritate the thin tissues covering your eyes.

People who live in places with high amounts of UV exposure are more likely to develop this condition, and you are more likely to get a pterygium if you are a male aged between 20-40.

Symptoms associated with pterygiums can range from mild irritation and redness to severe discomfort and blurred vision. Sometimes, people may experience tears or pain in the eye due to inflammation of the pterygium. Symptoms often worsen when the eyes are dry. Diagnosis typically involves an eye examination with a slit lamp. Your doctor will examine your eyes for signs of inflammation and other conditions that could cause these symptoms. If necessary, tests like OCT scans and cornea scans may be conducted to assess the effect of pterygium on your vision.

Pterygium surgery – conjunctival autografting for clearer vision

The treatment of a pterygium often depends on the person’s individual needs. If the pterygium has not affected vision or caused much discomfort, then no treatment may be necessary, and the eye doctor might want to monitor it over time. If the growth is causing visual, cosmetic or irritation problems, however, certain treatments can help.

Sometimes using special lubricating drops to reduce symptoms of irritation or steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation may be sufficient. In more advanced cases, surgery may be required to remove the growth and improve symptoms. During this procedure, the eye doctor will remove all or part of the pterygium and replace it with tissue from elsewhere in the eye. The surgeon might also apply steroids to prevent a recurrence. However, there is still a chance that the condition may return, so regular check-ups are essential for monitoring any changes or problems that occur after surgery.

Pterygium surgery is an eye surgery completed in an operating room to remove growths (also called pterygia) from the eye’s outer surface. Depending on how much of the eye is affected and how healthy the surrounding tissue is, your doctor may move healthy conjunctiva from other parts of your eye to cover up the affected area. If the growth is particularly large, an amniotic membrane may be applied over it to encourage healing. This procedure usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. If both eyes need to be operated on, they are typically treated on separate days so that one eye can be used while vision from the other recovers.

Do you want to mention the procedure is painless and done as a day case (no need to stay in the hospital)?

The benefits of undergoing Pterygium surgery

If your pterygium is causing unpleasant symptoms, having Pterygium surgery could offer many benefits. Removing a Pterygium will not only improve the aesthetic appearance of your eye but may also help improve your vision. Whilst undergoing Pterygium surgery consultation, your OCL surgeon will also advise on any other treatments they feel may benefit you, such as cataract removal. In some cases, can be other conditions like cataracts affecting the vision, and not the pterygium, and hence it is important to have a comprehensive eye examination by an eye doctor.

After surgery, the first step to recovery is patience. Depending on the particular technique used during your procedure, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for your eye to heal completely without signs of redness or discomfort. Following your doctor’s orders post-operation is essential for successful recovery; care instructions will likely include cleaning procedures, prescription eye drops, and scheduling follow-up visits if necessary. When recovering from surgery, you must keep an eye patch or pad (provided by the surgeon) in place over your eye to reduce any potential risks of infection while also providing added comfort. Additionally, it’s essential that you do not rub or irritate your incised area during this time, as doing so can cause tissue loosening, which could delay full healing.

By adhering to the post-surgical instructions given by your surgeon and allowing ample rest time for ultimate recovery, you’ll likely have a successful operation! Make sure to discuss with your doctor what kind of healing period should be expected for your specific situation so that you know what kind of timeframe you’re looking at regarding reaching full well-being again.

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Book your Pterygium surgery consultation with OCL Vision today 

If you have been diagnosed with Pterygium and it’s affecting your eyesight and daily life, booking a pterygium surgery consultation with one of our specialist surgeons could give you back your eyesight and your confidence. As a leading team of qualified London eye surgeons, we support clients with all ophthalmology and cosmetic eye surgery matters. Get in touch with our team today for more information.

OCL Vision is the only surgeon-owned, comprehensive private eye care group in England. With OCL Vision surgeons operating in dedicated clinics in London and Elstree, Hertfordshire, patients can access world-class eye care closer to home with a specialist consultant who has dedicated their career to a specific branch of Ophthalmology.

With over 180 years of collective experience in eye surgery, OCL Vision is an elite group of eye surgeons who together have performed over 60,000 surgical procedures, published more than 250 research papers, and presented their work both nationally and internationally. Together we provide patients with the highest standards of private eye care.