Pterygium
Harley Street, London
A pterygium is a common eye condition that can affect both vision and appearance, causing concern for many patients who notice this distinctive triangular growth on their eye. Understanding what a pterygium is, why it develops, and when treatment is necessary helps patients make informed decisions about their eye health.
Miss Shreya Haldar’s expertise in treating pterygium encompasses both conservative management and surgical intervention, ensuring that each patient receives the most appropriate care for their specific situation and concerns.
Understanding Pterygium
A pterygium is a benign, wing-shaped growth of fibrovascular tissue that extends from the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye) onto the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye). This pinkish, triangular-shaped tissue growth typically develops on the nasal side of the eye, though it can occasionally occur on the temporal side.
The term “pterygium” comes from the Greek word “pterygos,” meaning wing, which aptly describes the characteristic appearance of this growth. Whilst pterygia are non-cancerous, they can cause various symptoms and concerns that may require professional attention.
The growth consists of conjunctival tissue that has become thickened and vascularised, containing blood vessels that give it its distinctive pink or red appearance. As it progresses, the pterygium can encroach onto the cornea, potentially affecting vision if it grows large enough to interfere with the visual axis.
Causes and Risk Factors
UV Radiation Exposure
The primary cause of pterygium development is chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This explains why pterygia are more common in individuals living in sunny, tropical, or subtropical climates. The condition is often referred to as “surfer’s eye” due to its prevalence among people who spend significant time outdoors near water, where UV reflection increases exposure.
The nasal location of most pterygia is thought to result from the focusing effect of the nose and brow, which concentrate UV rays on the nasal conjunctiva and cornea.
Environmental Factors
Chronic exposure to dust, wind, and dry conditions can contribute to pterygium development. These environmental irritants cause ongoing inflammation of the eye surface, promoting the abnormal tissue growth characteristic of pterygia.
Occupational exposure to dust, chemicals, or other irritants can also increase the risk of pterygium formation. People working outdoors or in dusty environments are particularly susceptible.
Genetic Predisposition
There appears to be a hereditary component to pterygium development, with some families showing higher rates of occurrence. This genetic susceptibility may affect how individuals respond to environmental triggers.
Age and Gender
Pterygia typically develop in adults, with peak incidence occurring between ages 30 and 50. Men are more commonly affected than women, likely due to greater occupational and recreational sun exposure, though this gap is narrowing as lifestyle patterns change.
Symptoms and Progression
Early Symptoms
In its early stages, a pterygium may cause minimal symptoms. Patients might notice mild irritation, redness, or a sensation of having something in the eye. The growth is typically more noticeable to the patient than to others at this stage.
Progressive Symptoms
As the pterygium enlarges, symptoms often become more pronounced. Chronic irritation and inflammation can cause persistent redness and discomfort. The growth may become raised and more cosmetically noticeable, causing self-consciousness for some patients.
Dry eye symptoms can develop as the pterygium disrupts the normal tear film distribution across the eye surface. This can lead to increased tearing, burning, and grittiness.
Vision-Related Symptoms
When a pterygium extends significantly onto the cornea, it can cause astigmatism by altering the corneal shape. This results in blurred or distorted vision that may not be fully correctable with glasses or contact lenses.
In advanced cases, the pterygium can grow large enough to obstruct the visual axis directly, causing more significant vision impairment. Fortunately, this degree of progression is uncommon with modern awareness and treatment options.
When Treatment Becomes Necessary
Not all pterygia require treatment. Small, stable growths that cause minimal symptoms can often be managed conservatively with observation and symptomatic relief.
Indications for Treatment
Treatment becomes necessary when the pterygium causes persistent symptoms that interfere with daily activities, significantly affects appearance causing psychological distress, grows large enough to threaten vision, or causes astigmatism that impairs visual quality.
Rapidly growing pterygia or those that develop unusual characteristics may require evaluation to rule out other conditions.
Conservative Management
For mild symptoms, conservative treatment focuses on reducing irritation and inflammation. This includes using lubricating eye drops to maintain eye surface moisture, protecting eyes from UV radiation with quality sunglasses and hats, and avoiding environmental irritants when possible.
Anti-inflammatory eye drops may be prescribed during periods of increased irritation to reduce redness and discomfort.
Surgical Treatment
When conservative management is insufficient or the pterygium threatens vision, surgical removal becomes necessary. Modern pterygium surgery techniques have significantly improved outcomes and reduced recurrence rates compared to older methods.
Surgical Techniques
The standard approach involves complete excision of the pterygium tissue followed by reconstruction of the affected area. Miss Haldar employs advanced techniques that minimise the risk of recurrence whilst preserving normal eye function and appearance.
Conjunctival autograft procedures, where healthy conjunctival tissue from elsewhere on the same eye is used to cover the excision site, have shown excellent success rates. This technique significantly reduces the likelihood of pterygium recurrence compared to simpler excision methods.
Procedure Details
Pterygium surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthesia. The procedure usually takes 30-45 minutes, and patients can return home the same day.
Advanced surgical techniques may include the use of tissue glue rather than sutures, which can reduce post-operative discomfort and healing time. Intraoperative medications may be used to further reduce recurrence risk.
Recovery and Outcomes
Most patients experience significant improvement in symptoms following pterygium surgery. The eye may be red and uncomfortable for several days to weeks as healing progresses, but this gradually resolves.
Vision typically improves, particularly if the pterygium was causing astigmatism or other visual disturbances. Complete healing usually occurs within 6-8 weeks, though the eye may remain slightly red for several months.
Recurrence Prevention
Modern surgical techniques have reduced recurrence rates to approximately 5-10%. Post-operative care includes anti-inflammatory medications and careful follow-up to monitor healing and detect any signs of recurrence early.
Long-term prevention involves continued UV protection and environmental awareness to prevent new pterygium formation.
Prevention Strategies
The best approach to pterygium is prevention through lifestyle modifications that reduce UV and environmental exposure.
UV Protection
Wearing quality sunglasses that block 100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation is essential, particularly in bright, sunny conditions. Wraparound styles provide better protection from reflected UV rays.
Wide-brimmed hats offer additional protection, particularly important for those who spend significant time outdoors.
Environmental Protection
Protecting eyes from dust, wind, and other irritants helps prevent the chronic inflammation that contributes to pterygium development. This may involve using protective eyewear in dusty or windy conditions.
Maintaining good eye lubrication with artificial tears can help protect against environmental irritants and maintain healthy eye surface conditions.
Why Choose Miss Shreya Haldar for Pterygium Treatment?
Miss Haldar’s expertise as a consultant ophthalmic surgeon ensures that you receive the most appropriate treatment for your pterygium, whether conservative management or surgical intervention is required. Her surgical skills, when needed, employ the latest techniques to minimise recurrence and optimise outcomes.
Her comprehensive approach evaluates not just the pterygium itself but also contributing factors and associated conditions that might affect treatment success. This thorough assessment leads to more effective and lasting results.
Located on Harley Street in London, Miss Haldar’s practice provides convenient access to specialist care using the most advanced surgical facilities and techniques. Her commitment to patient education ensures that you understand your condition and treatment options fully.
The personalised approach to care means your treatment plan addresses your specific concerns, whether they relate to symptoms, appearance, or vision. Miss Haldar’s experience in comprehensive eye care ensures that all aspects of your eye health are considered in your treatment planning.
Don’t let a pterygium continue to irritate your eye or affect your vision. Miss Shreya Haldar’s expert evaluation and treatment of pterygium provides the care you need to restore eye comfort and preserve your vision.
Contact our practice today to arrange your consultation and discover how modern pterygium treatment can improve your eye health and quality of life. Your eyes deserve the specialist attention that only an experienced ophthalmologist can provide.