Pterygium

Pterygium is a form of sun-related growth of flesh over the clear cornea.  This happens over time and can cause poor vision, irritation, inflammation, and poor cosmesis.  The disorder is generally considered benign but approximately 2-5% can be associated with pre-cancerious or cancerous growth.  

Treatment : Mild pterygium can be managed with lubricating drops, avoiding excessive sun exposure, and occasionally topical anti-inflammatory drops such as steroids.  

Surgery: Surgery option should be considered when the pterygium is causing significant astigmatism, poor vision, inflammation, or showing signs of suspicious malignancy (cancerous) changes. 

A surgical video of this procedure is available from oDocs Eye Care's Youtube Channel. 

Pterygium excision with autoconjunctival graft is a local anaesthetic procedure, the cost ranges between NZD 4500 - 6000 depending on the complexity and the size of the lesion.  

It takes 3 - 5 days for the discomfort around the eye to resolve, and a further 2 - 3 weeks for the wound to heal.  Cosmetically, it may take up to 6 weeks to return to a near normal appearance. You are advised not to drive for up to a week post-surgery. 

The use of fibrin glue for the graft reduces the surgical time, and improves the comfort level post-surgery.  Dissolvable sutures can cause unnecessary pain and inflammation.  

The surgery is very safe.  The risk of sight-threatening complication is less than 1 in 1000.  They include infection, ocular perforation (cornea), and scleral melt.  There is also a 5% chance that a pterygium may grow back.