Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment

Pterygium can cause irritation and discomfort and be cosmetically displeasing for patients. At Heart of Texas Eye Care, we have the specialized training and experience to remove pterygium while reducing the risk of recurrence and giving the best chance for an excellent cosmetic result.

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Learn more about Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment

What Causes Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye)?

A pterygium is a benign growth that starts at either side of the cornea (clear center of the eye) and gradually progresses, growing over the cornea towards the center. The growth may appear white from scar tissue or red due to dilated blood vessels. Pterygium is often a result of UV exposure or irritants such as dust, wind, hot weather, and dry weather. 

Another term for pterygium is “surfer’s eye” since it is a common condition in individuals who spend a lot of time outside with excessive sun exposure. Wearing wide-brim hats and UV-protectant sunglasses can help prevent the development of pterygium.

Pterygium can affect one or both eyes and may cause some of the following symptoms:

  • A raised growth on the eye
  • Gritty Sensation
  • Foreign body sensation (having the feeling of something being in your eye)
  • Burning or itching
  • Red eye
  • Dry eyes
  • Blurry or double vision

What is Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment and How Does it Work?

Treatment for pterygium (surfer’s eye) aims to alleviate symptoms or remove the growth entirely. When a pterygium is small, it is best treated with artificial tears, topical steroids, wearing hats, and UV-blocking polarized sunglasses. In advanced cases, pterygium can cause constant discomfort and irritation or impede vision. For these patients, surgical removal is the best option.

With surgical treatment for pterygium, a surgeon will remove the pterygium and place a conjunctival graft over the treated area. This graft is made of conjunctiva tissue (the clear membrane that protects the eye) taken from behind a patient’s upper eyelid and is typically held in place with sutures and/or a biologic adhesive. This graft reduces the likelihood of patients developing a pterygium in the future.

How Can I Benefit From Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment?

Both non-surgical and surgical treatment for pterygium can provide many benefits for patients and improve their quality of life. With treatment, patients can alleviate their symptoms and improve the appearance of the affected eye. Some of the benefits of pterygium treatment include:

Non-Surgical

  • Reduce redness 
  • Alleviate dryness, burning, and irritation
  • Reduce inflammation 
  • Slow the progression of a pterygium


Surgical

  • Improve vision
  • Alleviate dryness, burning, itching, and red eyes
  • Enhance the appearance of the eye

What to Expect During Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment

The best treatment for pterygium will vary for each person and depend on the severity of the condition. For mild cases of pterygium, we may recommend simple lifestyle changes or habits that will prevent it from worsening, such as wearing hats and sunglasses. Artificial tears and topical treatments may also be enough to help small pterygium. For more severe cases, surgical removal may be needed. 

On the day of your procedure, we will place numbing eye drops in your eyes, and your nurse or anesthesiologist may also administer relaxing medication to help you feel calm and comfortable. Our experienced surgeon will begin treatment by removing the pterygium and a small amount of conjunctiva tissue. Your surgeon will then place the conjunctiva tissue graft on the treatment area and hold it in place with sutures. The entire procedure is painless, and our team will ensure you are as comfortable as possible.

Recovery Timeline for Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment

After your procedure, you will need to allow some time for recovery. We may recommend taking a few days off work. It is important to avoid rubbing or bumping your eyes, wearing eye makeup, and getting any irritants in your eyes, such as smoke or dust. We will prescribe you eye drops and ointments to help reduce swelling and prevent infection. We may provide you with an eyepatch, which should be worn until your doctor lets you know it is ready to be removed. 

When outdoors, it is best to protect your eyes from UV rays by wearing sunglasses. During recovery, you should avoid contact sports and getting water into your eyes, including water from pools, hot tubs, or showers. 

Following surgical treatment for pterygium, patients will be scheduled for a follow-up examination to monitor the eye. We highly recommend that patients continue to come in for annual eye exams after full recovery.

Who Can Have Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment?

Surgical treatment for pterygium may be an option for patients who can not alleviate their symptoms with topical treatments or if their condition impacts or may begin to impact their vision. During your in-person consultation, our team will determine your candidacy for treatment.

What Causes Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye)?

A pterygium is a benign growth that starts at either side of the cornea (clear center of the eye) and gradually progresses, growing over the cornea towards the center. The growth may appear white from scar tissue or red due to dilated blood vessels. Pterygium is often a result of UV exposure or irritants such as dust, wind, hot weather, and dry weather. 

Another term for pterygium is “surfer’s eye” since it is a common condition in individuals who spend a lot of time outside with excessive sun exposure. Wearing wide-brim hats and UV-protectant sunglasses can help prevent the development of pterygium.

Pterygium can affect one or both eyes and may cause some of the following symptoms:

  • A raised growth on the eye
  • Gritty Sensation
  • Foreign body sensation (having the feeling of something being in your eye)
  • Burning or itching
  • Red eye
  • Dry eyes
  • Blurry or double vision

What is Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment and How Does it Work?

Treatment for pterygium (surfer’s eye) aims to alleviate symptoms or remove the growth entirely. When a pterygium is small, it is best treated with artificial tears, topical steroids, wearing hats, and UV-blocking polarized sunglasses. In advanced cases, pterygium can cause constant discomfort and irritation or impede vision. For these patients, surgical removal is the best option.

With surgical treatment for pterygium, a surgeon will remove the pterygium and place a conjunctival graft over the treated area. This graft is made of conjunctiva tissue (the clear membrane that protects the eye) taken from behind a patient’s upper eyelid and is typically held in place with sutures and/or a biologic adhesive. This graft reduces the likelihood of patients developing a pterygium in the future.

How Can I Benefit From Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment?

Both non-surgical and surgical treatment for pterygium can provide many benefits for patients and improve their quality of life. With treatment, patients can alleviate their symptoms and improve the appearance of the affected eye. Some of the benefits of pterygium treatment include:

Non-Surgical

  • Reduce redness 
  • Alleviate dryness, burning, and irritation
  • Reduce inflammation 
  • Slow the progression of a pterygium


Surgical

  • Improve vision
  • Alleviate dryness, burning, itching, and red eyes
  • Enhance the appearance of the eye

What to Expect During Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment

The best treatment for pterygium will vary for each person and depend on the severity of the condition. For mild cases of pterygium, we may recommend simple lifestyle changes or habits that will prevent it from worsening, such as wearing hats and sunglasses. Artificial tears and topical treatments may also be enough to help small pterygium. For more severe cases, surgical removal may be needed. 

On the day of your procedure, we will place numbing eye drops in your eyes, and your nurse or anesthesiologist may also administer relaxing medication to help you feel calm and comfortable. Our experienced surgeon will begin treatment by removing the pterygium and a small amount of conjunctiva tissue. Your surgeon will then place the conjunctiva tissue graft on the treatment area and hold it in place with sutures. The entire procedure is painless, and our team will ensure you are as comfortable as possible.

Recovery Timeline for Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment

After your procedure, you will need to allow some time for recovery. We may recommend taking a few days off work. It is important to avoid rubbing or bumping your eyes, wearing eye makeup, and getting any irritants in your eyes, such as smoke or dust. We will prescribe you eye drops and ointments to help reduce swelling and prevent infection. We may provide you with an eyepatch, which should be worn until your doctor lets you know it is ready to be removed. 

When outdoors, it is best to protect your eyes from UV rays by wearing sunglasses. During recovery, you should avoid contact sports and getting water into your eyes, including water from pools, hot tubs, or showers. 

Following surgical treatment for pterygium, patients will be scheduled for a follow-up examination to monitor the eye. We highly recommend that patients continue to come in for annual eye exams after full recovery.

Who Can Have Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) Treatment?

Surgical treatment for pterygium may be an option for patients who can not alleviate their symptoms with topical treatments or if their condition impacts or may begin to impact their vision. During your in-person consultation, our team will determine your candidacy for treatment.

Take the
Next Step

Would you like to learn more about pterygium treatment and take the first step toward a clearer future? Then please fill out our online form or call us at (512) 213-2220 to get started with an in-person consultation at Heart of Texas Eye Care. Our courteous staff and board-certified ophthalmologists are here to assist you through every step of your journey!

Request a Consultation

Clearer Vision
Starts Here

If you’re ready for lasting vision correction with LASIK, a consultation for cataracts, or maybe blepharoplasty to rejuvenate aging eyes, our team can help. Or maybe it’s time for your yearly eye exam or maintenance Botox® injections. Click the button below to explore financing options for all your eye care needs.

View Our Financing Options

Clearer Vision
Starts Here

View Our Financing Options

If you’re ready for lasting vision correction with LASIK, a consultation for cataracts, or maybe blepharoplasty to rejuvenate aging eyes, our team can help. Or maybe it’s time for your yearly eye exam or maintenance Botox® injections. Click the button below to explore financing options for all your eye care needs.