External Eye Disease

source – American Academy Ophthalmology

It is a benign growth on the surface of the cornea caused by ultraviolet sun damage. It can grow very slowly over many years.

• Redness
• Irritation and pain
• Blurred vision
• Recurrent eye inflammation

• Observation: if the symptoms are not severe and the lesion is small, it is not necessary to remove the pterygium. The use of some lubricating eye drops may be sufficient to relieve the symptoms of irritation.

• Sunglasses and a hat are advised in hot dry weather to reduce the chance of the pterygium growing.

• Surgery is indicated if the lesion is causing considerable irritation and pain; if it is growing and starting to affect vision or if it is cosmetically unacceptable.
  The operation involves excising the pterygium from the surface of the cornea and the conjunctiva. The bare area is covered by a conjunctival graft taken from another area of the conjunctiva under the upper eyelid and adhered in place using tissue glue.
  This technique is well tolerated after surgery and shows less chance of recurrence.