What is pterygium?

It consists of an abnormal growth of tissue on the cornea (the anterior, transparent surface of the eye). This tissue is easily inflamed by sun exposure, wind or other irritants.

Pterygium is painless and symptoms vary according to the size of the lesion. As inflammation increases, the patient experiences discomfort such as irritation (red eye), tearing or a foreign body sensation. In more severe cases, vision may be compromised by the development of astigmatism or the covering of larger areas of the cornea.

The exact causes of pterygium are unknown; however, some risk factors have been identified, such as excessive exposure to:

• Sunlight.
• Rough environmental conditions, such as dust, dirt, heat, wind, dryness and smoke.
• Allergenic products, such as solvents and industrial chemicals.
• Working outdoors.