# Pterygium

Source page: https://www.kudretgozistanbul.com/en/treatments/pterygium

**Author:** Kudret Eye İstanbul | **Medical Approval:** Op. Dr. Deniz Oygar Baylançiçek | **Date:** 2026-09-10

> **Summary:** Pterygium is a thickened growth of the conjunctiva that extends onto the cornea, mostly linked to sunlight (UV), wind and dust. It causes redness and irritation and, as it advances, astigmatism and blurred vision; treatment is surgical removal.

## Quick Facts
- **Operation Duration:** 20-30 minutes
- **Recovery Time:** Back to daily life in about a week, full recovery in up to a month
- **Anaesthesia Type:** Local anaesthesia (patient stays awake)
- **Contagious:** No

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## What Is Pterygium?
A tissue growing from the conjunctiva (the thin, vessel-rich membrane covering the eye surface) onto the transparent cornea. Like a callus on the skin, it is a thickening caused by external factors. It usually starts from a pinguecula, a yellowish-white, sun-related (UV) bump on the conjunctiva, and is usually seen at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions of the eye. It is degenerative and not infectious.

## Symptoms
- Redness, stinging or burning, watering.
- Dry eye.
- Blurred vision and astigmatic changes in advanced cases, as the growth covers the cornea.
- Aesthetically unpleasant appearance.

## Causes
- Ultraviolet sunlight: the most important cause.
- Dusty work environments, chemical substances and wind.
- More common in people living in hot climates.

## When Is Surgery Needed?
- Significant discomfort (redness, stinging, watering).
- Visual impairment, or a risk of progressing towards the pupil.
- An aesthetic defect that disturbs the patient, or other medical necessity.

Untreated, it can cover the cornea and cause severe vision loss; treatment at that advanced stage may leave a white spot.

## How Is It Operated?
The pterygium is cut away from the cornea and the remaining conjunctiva is closed with sutures. To prevent recurrence, the surgeon may fold the conjunctiva under itself, change its direction, graft a piece of conjunctiva from elsewhere, use antimetabolite drugs, or transplant amniotic membrane.

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## The Treatment Journey

### During Treatment
- Local anaesthesia, without general sleep; only light touches may be felt.
- About 20-30 minutes, lying still and flat.

### After Treatment
- Back to daily life in about a week; redness, stinging and burning may continue early on, full recovery up to a month.
- Drops are used temporarily.
- Recurrence is possible, though unlikely.

## Risks and Possible Side Effects
A short, low-risk procedure; most effects are temporary.
- **Redness, grittiness, watering:** Common in the first weeks, settle with drops.
- **Temporary blurred vision:** In the first days.
- **Recurrence:** Reduced considerably by modern techniques and tissue grafts; sun protection and check-ups matter; can be treated again.
- **Infection:** Very rare, prevented with drops and hygiene.

## Prevention
- Sun protection from childhood: hats and UV-protective sunglasses.
- Avoid long stays in dusty, windy environments.
- Avoid smoking and smoky areas.
- Use artificial tears regularly to prevent dry eye.
- Operated patients should be especially careful.

## Price
The price varies with the underlying cause and the operation performed; the plan is set individually after a detailed examination.

## About the Hospital
Over 24 years in eye care, three eye hospitals and a general hospital, specialist surgeons for each treatment, and lifetime aftercare.

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## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

**Q: Can pterygium cause vision loss?**
A: Yes. As it grows onto the cornea it can block vision or cause astigmatism by disrupting corneal curvature.

**Q: Can pterygium come back after surgery?**
A: Yes, but modern techniques and tissue grafts reduce the risk significantly; sun protection also helps.

**Q: Is pterygium contagious?**
A: No, it is a degenerative disease and does not spread to others.

**Q: How can pterygium be prevented?**
A: UV-protective sunglasses, avoiding windy and dusty places, and regular artificial tears against dry eye.

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## References
- What Is a Pinguecula and a Pterygium (Surfer's Eye)?, AAO
- Pterygium, EyeWiki (AAO)
- The Sun, UV Light and Your Eyes, AAO