This month a patient asked: “I have a growth in my eye. What is it?”
Dr. Patel answered:
Although an evaluation would need to take place to understand your specific condition, this may be a pterygium. A pterygium is a fleshy growth that infests the eye’s cornea. This occurs when the conjunctiva (a membrane that spreads over the white of the eye) grows into the cornea.
Pterygium normally takes place on the inner corner of the eye and may be little or can grow big enough to intervene with vision. It can affect one or both eyes and usually does not lead to anything severe such as a serious loss of vision or blindness.
This condition is more common in men than women and is more likely to occur in someone who spends a considerable amount of time in the sun. Other risk factors include:
- People who are frequently exposed to ultraviolet light (both UV-A and UV-B).
- People with a family history of the development of pterygia.
- There is a higher rate of pterygium in people living near the equator.
- Those who are frequently exposed to hot, dry, dusty, and windy conditions.
A pterygium should be diagnosed and treated by a board certified ophthalmologist. When the pterygium becomes red and aggravated, topical eye drops or ointments may be utilized to help scale down the redness. In more serious cases where the pterygium is big enough to endanger your sight, it can be surgically removed.
In a 30 minute procedure, the pterygium is lifted from the eye and cut away. The patient’s eye tissue is used to graft the area where the pterygium was. Stitches will be used and will later dissolve. After surgery, eye drops are used to help with healing and prevent infection. Strenuous activity is not recommended for up to one week after the procedure and full recovery is expected after one month.
If you are concerned about a growth on your eye it is important to seek medical attention to begin treatment and prevent further growth.
