Pterygium (Surfer's Eye) Treatment and Surgery in San Diego

Yes. To manage the symptoms of a mild pterygium, medication alone may be entirely sufficient. Dr. Feldman may prescribe:

• Lubricating Eye Drops: High-quality artificial tears help flush out irritants and keep the eye comfortably hydrated.
• Prescription Ointments: Used at night to provide lasting relief from dry, scratchy sensations.
• Mild Steroid Eye Drops: If the pterygium becomes red and inflamed, non-steroidal or mild steroid eye drops can be prescribed to quickly reduce swelling and irritation.

Not all pterygia need to be removed. If yours isn't threatening your sight or causing you significant discomfort, medication alone may be sufficient. Lubricating eye drops, ointments, and possibly a non-steroidal or even a mild steroid eye drop may be prescribed to reduce inflammation associated with a pterygium. If medication doesn't provide sufficient relief, and your pterygium has become large enough to cause trouble, or you'd like it removed for cosmetic reasons, surgery can be helpful. A pterygium, commonly known as "Surfer's Eye," is a wedge-shaped growth of fleshy tissue on the white part of your eye. While the presence of this growth can be alarming, the good news is that highly effective treatments are available to relieve your symptoms and protect your vision.

At ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center, Dr. Sandy T. Feldman provides comprehensive care for pterygium, ranging from conservative medical management to the most advanced surgical removal techniques available today.

If conservative medications do not provide sufficient relief, surgery becomes the best option. Dr. Feldman typically recommends pterygium removal surgery if:

• The growth has become large enough to distort your cornea, inducing astigmatism and blurring your vision.

• The pterygium is aggressively growing toward the center of your pupil.

• You are experiencing chronic, severe inflammation and discomfort.

• You are unhappy with the cosmetic appearance of the redness and growth on your eye.

The Autograft Technique: To prevent the pterygium from returning, a newer technique involves filling the gap with a graft of healthy tissue removed from underneath your eyelid. While highly effective, traditional methods required stitches to hold the graft in place, which caused significant discomfort during healing.

The "No-Stitch" Advantage: The latest advance in Surfer's Eye treatment is "no-stitch" autograft surgery. Instead of painful sutures, Dr. Feldman uses a special surgical glue made of clotting proteins naturally found in human blood to secure the graft.

For individuals with aggressive pterygia, Dr. Feldman may also utilize specific medications during surgery, along with a graft of amniotic membrane, to minimize pain, radically reduce inflammation, and ensure the best possible cosmetic outcome.

Pterygium removal surgery eliminates the abnormal tissue from the cornea and sclera (white of the eye). The older surgical techniques left a hole in the conjunctiva (the surface of the eye) where the pterygium was removed. Unfortunately, this led to a high rate of regrowth.

A newer technique fills the gap left by the removal of the pterygium with a graft of tissue removed from under the eyelid. This graft is then sutured in place. A downside of this approach is that the stitches can cause discomfort while the eye heals. This healing period can last for weeks.

The latest advance in ptergyium removal surgery does away with the stitches altogether. The "no-stitch" autograft surgery (the tissue is an "autograft" because you donate it to yourself) uses a special kind of surgical glue made of clotting proteins found in human blood. There's little discomfort, the rate or recurrence is low, and patients are usually back to work within two days of surgery.

One of the greatest benefits of the "no-stitch" surgical technique is the drastically reduced recovery time.

Because there are no sutures irritating the surface of the eye, post-operative discomfort is minimal. The rate of recurrence is incredibly low, and most patients heal quickly enough to be back to work within just two days of surgery. For individuals who have had pterygia removed before or have aggressive pterygia, medication can be used at the time of the surgery to prevent cells from regrowing. This medication, along with a graft of amniotic membrane, may further reduce recurrence rates of aggressive pterygia. Additionally, amniotic membrane grafts may help minimize pain, reduce inflammation, and improve the cosmetic outcome.