Pterygium

What is Pterygium?

Pterygium is a common eye condition. It is the growth of abnormal tissue, which tends to extend from the corner of the eye near the center of the eye. In appearance, pterygium is typically pink and fleshy and is located on the white part of the eye.

A pterygium can vary in appearance; they can be small and difficult to see, or large, red and noticeable. Because pterygium varies in appearance it may be yellow, gray, white, pink, red, or in some cases colorless.

Pterygium is not cancerous and typically develops slowly over time. In some cases progression of pterygium halts after a time. However, the pterygium can continue to grow and begin to cover the center of the eye. In this instance, it can lead to vision loss.

Pterygium Symptoms

In some cases, patients with pterygium do not exhibit symptoms. However, this is rare. Aside from the visible growth, some symptoms may include:

  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Itching
  • Irritation
  • Blurry vision
  • Foreign body sensations

Causes

Exposure to UV radiation is a major cause of Pterygium; it is very important to protect your eyes from exposure to the sun. Other risk factors for Pterygium are believed to be frequent exposure to dust and wind.

When doing outdoor activities, it is advised to wear UV Coated sunglasses, wear hats, and take steps to avoid prolonged exposure to radiation, particularly if you live in tropical areas or are frequently in the sun.

Pterygium Surgery

If a pterygium begins to impact daily activities and causes chronic discomfort, surgery is a common course of treatment. The surgery is minimally invasive, taking anywhere from 20-30 minutes to complete.

Pterygium surgery involves the careful removal of the pterygium, and a skin graft used from beneath the upper eyelid. The skin graft might be placed over the removal spot and secured with tissue glue or sutures.

Other treatment options can include artificial tears or, in some cases, topical steroids. At Stahl Eyecare Experts, Thierry Hufnagel, MD specializes in the evaluation, treatment, and removal of pterygium from the eye.

For more information on pterygium surgery at Stahl Eyecare Experts, request an appointment today!

GARDEN CITY, LONG ISLAND
450 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: 516.832.8000
For a LASIK consultation, please call (516) 832-8000 ext. 4
MANHATTAN
185 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor (On the corner of 34th Street) New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212.689.7676
For a LASIK consultation, please call (516) 832-8000 ext. 4
HAUPPAUGE, LONG ISLAND
200 Motor Parkway, Suite D-25 Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: 631.952.8000
For a LASIK consultation, please call (516) 832-8000 ext. 4
spanish flagamerican flag
HIPAA Policy PRIVACY POLICY SECTION 1557 - AFFORDABLE CARE ACT Accessibility Disclaimer
Facebook Twitter Instagram Blog

If you are seeking a Long Island LASIK specialist, the eye doctors at Stahl Eyecare Experts would like to offer you a great opportunity in laser eye surgery. Brought to you by professional, experienced Long Island LASIK surgeons, our one-of-a-kind medical facility brings not only cutting-edge technology, but experienced hands in ophthalmology as well. Helping you achieve your personal best vision is mission critical at our Long Island LASIK office. If LASIK cost is something that has been holding you back please feel free to review our options regarding LASIK Financing. We are dedicated to providing the best in patient education so that our patients can make a well-educated decision as to whether or not LASIK would be a good vision correction option. Remember, not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. This is precisely why you need to have an experienced LASIK surgeon in Long Island evaluate you to make sure that this is the right eye surgery procedure for you! If LASIK is not the best procedure for you, we offer other ophthalmology procedures such as cataract surgery to help you see better. If you are seeking a Long Island cataract surgeon we are happy to offer cataract consultations to educate you about this process and determine your vision correction options.

If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 516.832.8000.

All Rights Reserved. Stahl Eyecare Experts ©2024

Stahl Eyecare Experts
Back to top