Pterygium

Pterygium

At Valley Eye Specialists, surgery to remove a pterygium is performed by Dr Juanita Pappalardo who specialises in the procedure. Dr Pappalardo performs the P.E.R.F.E.C.T (Pterygium Extended Removal Followed by Extended Conjunctival Transplantation) technique, having been trained by the pioneer of the technique, Professor Lawrence Hirst. The procedure can be performed at Brisbane Day Surgery in Spring Hill or at North West Private Hospital in Everton Park. The surgery can be performed as a day procedure, and is performed under local anaesthetic sedation or general anasethesia.

What is a pterygium?

A pterygium is an overgrowth of tissue from the white of the eye onto the cornea (crystal window of the eye). The tissue can appear pink or fleshy, and typically grows in a triangular shape. It can occur in one or both eyes.
Sometimes, a pterygium can undergo growth across the cornea that can begin to interfere with good quality vision. It can also become inflamed, resulting in irritation and redness as well as discomfort.
If a pterygium is actively growing or causes significant symptoms, it may be necessary to surgically remove the pterygium. Apart from surgical removal, treatment for a pterygium can include lubricating eye drops, sparing use of eye drops to reduce redness, and the avoidance of irritants.

What causes pterygium?

A pterygium can have a variety of causes, but generally is is linked to sunlight (UV) exposure, particularly during childhood. Frequent exposure to dusty, sandy or windy environments can also contribute.

How do you know if you have a pterygium?

You can usually see if you have a pterygium, as he tissue from the white of the eye extends across the cornea, typically in a triangular-like shape. If you have this eye condition, you may also experience inflammation of the eye, redness, or discomfort (such as itching, burning or mild eye pain). Another symptom of a pterygium can be interference with vision.

However, other eye conditions may result in a change in the appearance of the eye that can look similar to a pterygium. A thorough eye assessment is required to make the correct diagnosis and to determine the most suitable treatment.
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Pterygium symptoms

Signs that you may have a pterygium include:

  • Pink or fleshy tissue from the white of the eye that has grown onto the cornea (often appearing in a triangular shape)
  • Inflammation
  • Redness
  • Itching
  • Burning
  • Mild eye pain
  • General discomfort
  • Trouble with having clear visio
Even if you’re not sure that what you’re experiencing is a pterygium, if you are concerned about any of the above symptoms, we recommend scheduling a visit to Valley Eye Specialists in Brisbane for a thorough eye assessment by one of our ophthalmologists.
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How to prevent pterygium

A pterygium may be prevented by protecting your eyes from sun exposure and windy, dry, sandy or dusty environments. Good quality sunglasses provide protection, and taking other measures to reduce UV exposure such as wearing a broad-brimmed hat are also advisable.

Can a pterygium come back?

Recurrence of a pterygium is a possibility, but this can be minimised to a less than 1 in 1, 000 chance through the use of the P.E.R.F.E.C.T (Pterygium Extended Removal Followed by Extended Conjunctival Transplantation) technique. At Valley Eye Specialists, this technique can be performed by Dr Juanita Pappalardo.

Treatment for pterygium

It is useful for most people with a pterygium to have an examination with their eye health care progressional every 1-2 years to ensure that the pterygium is not growing.
For some people, a pterygium can cause dryness and irritation and requires the use of lubricating eye drops for comfort. In others in whom redness is the main concern, the occasional use of an over the counter eye drop can give temporary relief for important social occasions or times when the eye is very irritated. Avoidance of known irritants is also important.
In some cases, surgery may be the appropriate method to treat the pterygium. The best technique for surgical removal involves extended resection of the pterygium tissue followed by reconstruction with an extensive conjunctival transplant – the P.E.R.F.E.C.T technique.
At Valley Eye Specialists in Brisbane, Dr Juanita Pappalardo is an experienced ophthalmologist who has been trained to perform the P.E.R.F.E.C.T (Pterygium Extended Removal Followed by Extended Conjunctival Transplantation) technique.
Surgery to remove a pterygium can be performed at Brisbane Day Surgery in Spring Hill or at North West Private Hospital in Everton Park, using local anaesthetic and sedation or general anaesthetic. It is usually performed as a day procedure.
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Why undergo surgery to remove a pterygium?

The principal reasons that surgery may be recommended include chronic irritation and redness, significant cosmetic concern, or when the pterygium is large enough that it could affect vision or is beginning to affect vision.
As with many eye conditions, treating the condition before it interferes with vision or causes other eye concerns may be the most appropriate option.

If you’re not sure whether you need to undergo surgery for a pterygium, a thorough assessment and discussion of your treatment options will help provide you with further information and guidance. vision or causes other eye concerns may be the most appropriate option.

If you’re not sure whether you need to undergo surgery for a pterygium, a thorough assessment and discussion of your treatment options will help provide you with further information and guidance.