Pterygium Eye Surgery & Treatment Woodville, Adelaide

What is a Pterygium (Surfers eye)?

A pterygium is a growth that appears as a thin, clear membrane on the surface of the eye (known as the conjunctiva) and gradually extends onto the cornea. While it isn’t cancerous and doesn’t spread to other parts of the body, a pterygium can affect your vision if it grows too far across the eye and over the pupil. In such a situation, pterygium eye surgery also called as Surfer’s eye surgery may be required to remove the pterygium and restore normal vision.

Pterygium usually develops outward from the inner corner of the eye, though it can also develop from the outer edge or both sides simultaneously (rare). A pterygium can develop in a one or both eyes simultaneously. Not everybody experiences signs and symptoms, but a pterygium can cause discomfort, irritation, redness, and inflammation. An eye specialist should be able to diagnose the condition by observing the eye’s appearance, without the need for anyspecific tests.

Pterygium Eye Treatment in Woodville, Adelaide: Treatment Options and Surgical Procedures

The treatment for pterygium depends on the severity of its growth and intensity of symptoms. In the early stages, your ophthalmologist may recommend non-surgical pterygium eye treatment. This can include avoiding sunlight and UV light as much as possible and the use of eye drops to soothe and lubricate the surface of the eye. In a few cases, a surfer’s eye surgery might be required to remove the growth and save you from further complications. However regular eye tests will be necessary to monitor its progression.

A pterygium growing towards the pupil Pterygium eye surgery is recommended when the pterygium grows too much or causes discomfort or vision issues. The goal of pterygium surgery is to remove the growth before it extends over the pupil toprevent corneal scarring, which is the main cause of permanent vision problems.

Pterygium surgery is a sutureless (no stitches) procedure that can be performed as a day surgery procedure under local anaesthesia. The surgery involves removing the abnormal tissue from the surface of the eye and replacing it with a healthy conjunctival graft taken from under the upper eyelid from the same eye. There are minimum risks associated with the surgery, and most patients experience a smooth recovery with the proper post-surgery care. The recovery time is typically uncomplicated if the guidelines provided by your eye health care surgeon are followed stringently.

In rare cases, a pterygium can recur after it’s been surgically removed. The conjunctival graft technique reduces the risk significantly and widely used by all eye surgeons at Woodville. For those considering pterygium eye treatment in Woodville, it’s important to consult with an experienced eye surgeon in Adelaide who can guide you through the process and recommend an excellent way of action in your specific situation.

At SA Eye Specialists, we are committed to providing complete eye care solutions. We specialise in sutureless pterygium eye treatment in Adelaide, we ensure the best possible outcomes for patients dealing with eye conditions. In addition to pterygium treatment, we provide a wide range of services, including cataract surgery, eyelid malposition, squint correction, paediatric ophthalmology, macular degenerationand glaucoma treatment in Adelaide. Our skilled ophthalmologists are devoted to delivering high-quality care using modern strategies and technology, so you can relax that your vision is in safe hands.

Request an appointment

Correct at date of publication: December 11, 2024

terygium surgery is a surgical procedure performed to remove the growth/scar tissue that grows over the cornea (the clear window of the eye), and which can grow across the pupil and cause permanent scarring, affecting vision.

There are different techniques for pterygium removal and these have been refined over time in order to prevent regrowth and recurring pterygium symptoms (although this can not always be entirely ruled out).

There are also steps that can be taken to prevent or limit the onset of pterygium symptoms (also known as surfer’s eye), such as using lubricating eye drops, avoiding UV light exposure, and wearing protective sunglasses, but in most cases pterygium surgery will ultimately be required.

There are a number of common pterygium causes, and it is estimated that around 1 in 100 people in Australia develop the condition. It is very often the result of exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation (which is why it is also referred to as surfer’s eye), while dusty and windy environments can also have an impact.

If the fine blood vessels in your eye become visible, or you notice a pink, triangular tissue beginning to grow on the surface of the eye, then it is likely that a pterygium is developing. You may also notice that you have an itching or gritty sensation on the surface of the eye.

close up of a pterygium growing towards a pupil

FAQ's

Pterygium surgical procedure is generally not painful, as it’s performed under local anaesthesia. You may face some discomfort during the recovery time, however it’s also manageable with prescribed medications.

The healing process after a pterygium surgery generally takes some weeks. Some patients resume their everyday activities within a week, however, full recovery may also take up to a month.

No, a pterygium will not go away on its own. Their growth however can be limited or they may stop growing. In cases where pterygium continues to grow, treatments and surgical interventions may be needed.

Your GP or optometrist will need to refer you before you can make an appointment to see our Doctors. It is usually the case that any referral remains valid for 12 months. If you don’t have a current referral, Medicare will not pay the rebate and so you will be liable for the full cost of any consultations or treatment.

You can reduce or slow their growth by wearing sunglasses and avoiding sunlight and UV rays as much as possible, while also staying out of windy and dusty environments as much as you can.

Pterygiums can be managed with eye drops or surgery, depending on their size and effect on your vision. Pterygium eye surgery is the most effective to get rid of the growth and prevent it from further issues.

Whether or not you can wear contact lenses with pterygia will depend on the size and development of the growth. Your ophthalmologist will provide you with guidance based on your specific circumstances.

Your Adelaide ophthalmologist will be able to advise you more specifically, but there are some general tips to follow after pterygium surgery:

You should not swim for about a month after surgery
You may find it tricky to drive for the first week, so this should be avoided;
You may need to take up to two weeks off work
You will likely need to use antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops
You might need to change your glasses prescription

Generally speaking, recovery from pterygium surgery will take up to 2 weeks, after which time you should be able to return to work and resume your regular lifestyle activities. However, it may be up to 4 weeks before you can swim again.

Pterygiums normally do not cause blindness. However, if left untreated and allowed to grow over the pupil, they could harm vision significantly.

Request an appointment