Fleshy in the eye or pterygium is the growth of the conjunctiva and tenon on the cornea. Chronic irritation of the ocular surface due to exposure to the sun and / or polluting environments facilitate its appearance in the patient.

Being classified as benign, the risk of Pterygium cancer is practically nil.

However, if the proper treatment and care is not carried out, it can cause discomfort of varying intensity that will increase until it makes vision or daily activities difficult.

How is the treatment for pterygium?

In some cases, only general measures are needed, lubricating, anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor eye drops (to relieve red eye). On the contrary, when it is more widespread or the symptoms are very uncomfortable despite the initial treatment, the only alternative is surgery and it should be performed under the following conditions:

• When causes discomfort to the patient
• When is aesthetically uncomfortable
• When the obviously evolves or grows
• When vision begins to decrease or when the threatens to invade the pupillary axis or the center of the eye is an emergency.

Pterygium Surgery with Conjunctival Graft

This treatment seeks to permanently eliminate it from the ocular surface and perform plastic microsurgery so that the conjunctiva returns to have the characteristics of a healthy conjunctiva.

The surgery is performed under local anesthesia, consists of removing the affected part and placing an autograft (portion of the healthy conjunctiva of the patient’s eye to replace it) or amniotic membrane, sometimes special medications are applied during surgery to reduce the risk of relapse.

After surgery

The result of the surgery will be noticeable approximately one month after the procedure.
The stitches are removed between 7 and 15 days after surgery, depending on each case.
When it is very large there may be slight evidence of its previous existence. It usually manifests as a small white line over the site of the pterygium.
Pterygium surgery is not a refractive procedure, therefore visual acuity will not improve after surgery.
After surgery it is necessary to avoid irritating factors such as sun exposure and exposure to polluted environments and thus prevent it from appearing again.