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A pterygium is a vascularized
growth on the surface of the sclera
(white part of the eye). |
It generally begins in the nasal quadrant
(nose-side) of the eye. Pterygia result
from long-term unprotected sun exposure.
Signs and symptoms of pterygia include
irritation and redness, changing vision
due to growth onto the cornea, and anxiety
due to undesirable appearance. Although
lubrication and protection from the
sun may help early on, advanced pterygia
generally requires surgical removal.
Surgery to remove pterygia is not uncommon.
Although frequently performed with simple
anesthetic drops, occasionally a numbing
shot is required. The excision is performed
with a small pair of surgical eye scissors
and gentle cautery. This procedure generally
last just a few minutes. The recurrence
rate of simple excision is close to
50%. To reduce the recurrence rate,
a graft consisting of conjunctiva or
amnion is sutured or glued into the
affected area. The grafted area will
appear red for several weeks following
surgery.
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