Find relief from pterygium with guided care

Learn how treatment works and what it may mean for your eye comfort.

Patients inquiring about pterygium treatment will need a referral from their optometrist or GP.

As seen in

Find relief from pterygium with guided care

Learn how treatment works and what it may mean for your eye comfort.

Patients inquiring about pterygium treatment will need a referral from their optometrist or GP.

As seen in

A clearer way to manage surfer’s eye

Your clinician will guide you through the treatment process and what to expect.

Pterygium treatment suitability criteria

  • A pterygium is an abnormal growth of the conjunctiva (the skin of the eye). A pterygium is benign (not cancerous), but if not removed it can continue to grow and cover the cornea and limit your vision by causing permanent scarring and astigmatism
  • Pterygiums are generally caused by excess exposure to the sun and are more common in people who have lived in warm and tropical climates of prolonged sun exposure1https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/pterygium#:~:text=Risk%20factors%20for%20a%20pterygium,-Pterygia%20are%20known&text=Excessive%20exposure%20to%20the%20ultraviolet,Age%20%E2%80%93%20risk%20increases%20with%20age.. Most often a pterygium is located on the part of the conjunctiva closer to the nose and can appear as a yellow-red “bump” on the eye.

  • The latest technique of pterygium removal is via excision with conjunctival autografting (PECG)2https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/new-approach-emerges-pterygium-surgery#:~:text=with%20autologous%20blood.-,No%20Sutures%2C%20No%20Glue,Academy’s%20Annual%20Meeting%20last%20fall.&text=With%20traditional%20sutures%2C%20Dr.
  • This is a day surgery procedure and takes about 15-20 minutes.

Possible advantages are:

Pterygium surgery removes the growth from the surface of the eye. Some people notice changes in the appearance of the eye or in their vision after the procedure, but experiences vary from person to person. Your clinician will explain what outcomes may be realistic for you.

Possible disadvantages

It is common to experience some discomfort after surgery. This usually settles as the eye heals, though the timeframe is different for everyone. Your surgeon will discuss the recovery process and what to expect in the days following treatment.

The main risks after pterygium surgery are:

  • Infection (very rare) 3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7182561/#:~:text=This%20study%20found%20an%20incidence,microbial%20keratitis%20after%20pterygium%20surgery.
  • Recurrence 4https://bjo.bmj.com/content/82/6/661
  • Eyelid droop – usually revolves 3 months after surgery.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

  • The procedure is performed with local anaesthesia and sedation
  • The pterygium is peeled back carefully such that any associated scarring is removed and only clear cornea is left behind.
  • To reduce the risk of regrowth Dr Gupta will perform an autoconjunctival graft. This is the relocation of a small portion of the conjunctiva (from under the upper lid) to the site of the excised pterygium.
  • Dr Gupta uses an advanced surgical glue which binds the graft to the eye in seconds such that no sutures are required
  • This results in significantly reduced postoperative discomfort, less inflammation and an enhanced recovery.5https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10365254/

People often experience some discomfort or a feeling that the eye is “different” as it begins to heal. Many patients take about a week off work, depending on how their eye feels and the type of work they do.

It is common for the eye to appear red for a period after surgery. Your clinician will explain what you may notice during recovery and how to care for the eye as it heals.

Ready to explore your treatment options?

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3 simple steps to find the right treatment

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Get in touch

Many people are unsure about which eye treatment can help them and which option they should choose. The first step is to get a clear answer on whether one of our treatments will suit your needs. Give our friendly team a call us on: 08 7082 2066 or request a call back.

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You can rest assured that we will answer all of your questions and help you decide on an appropriate treatment option. We’ll also provide a clear recommendation based on what works well with your needs.

MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE

At our eye clinic in Adelaide, we offer a range of treatment options designed to address different vision needs. After your procedure, you will be guided through what to expect as you adjust to your vision. Many people find that this stage helps them return to their usual routines with more clarity about how to manage their eye health.

Affiliations and memberships

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Learn more about pterygium treatment through these online resources

Expand your knowledge about pterygium treatment. (These links will take you off our website.)

Pterygium surgery is a procedure performed to remove noncancerous conjunctiva growths (pterygia) from the eye. It is a minimally invasive surgery and generally takes no more than 30 to 45 minutes. Click here for more information.

A pterygium is an elevated, wedged-shaped bump on the eyeball that starts on the white of the eye (sclera) and can invade the cornea. If you have more than one of these eye growths, the plural form of the word is pterygia. Though it’s commonly called “surfer’s eye,” you don’t have to be a surfer or ever see the ocean to get a pterygium. But being in bright sunlight for long hours — especially when you are on the water, which reflects the sun’s harmful UV rays — increases your risk.

This paper providess a comprehensive list of causes, signs And symptoms, recurrence and treatment. Click here for more information.

Hi, I’m Dr Aanchal Gupta, a specialist laser eye and cataract surgeon in Adelaide.

For more than 15 years, I have had the privilege of helping thousands of patients achieve clearer vision and greater freedom from glasses and contact lenses, having performed more than 15,000 eye procedures.

Vision correction requires precision, experience and sound clinical judgement. Achieving consistently excellent outcomes depends not only on advanced technology, but also on the expertise of the surgeon using it.

I understand that choosing eye surgery is an important decision. Every person’s eyes—and visual needs—are different, so treatment should be carefully tailored to your eye health, lifestyle and goals.

Your complimentary initial assessment is an opportunity to explore your suitability, learn about the options available and have your questions answered without obligation.

I look forward to welcoming you to IVISION LASER in Adelaide and helping you discover what may be possible for your vision.

Dr Aanchal Gupta

MBBS, M.Med. (Ophth. Sci.), Grad. Dip. (Refract. Surg.), FRANZCO, FWCRS&VS
Specialist Laser Eye and Cataract Surgeon