A pterygium is a benign growth on the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of your eye. The condition, sometimes known as “Surfer’s Eye,” raises a frequent question about its potential to resolve without intervention. The direct answer is that a pterygium will not go away on its own once it has formed. It is a fibrous tissue that usually requires medical management or monitoring and does not spontaneously regress.
Defining Pterygium and Its Causes
A pterygium is a raised, fleshy growth that is usually triangular or wedge-shaped. This abnormal tissue starts on the conjunctiva and extends horizontally onto the cornea, the clear dome-shaped surface at the front of the eye. It most commonly appears on the nasal side and has visible blood vessels.
The main cause of pterygium development is prolonged, cumulative exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This exposure causes damage to the delicate surface tissue of the eye over time. Other environmental factors also contribute to the irritation that promotes growth. These include chronic exposure to hot, dry climates, wind, dust, and sand.
The Condition’s Natural Course
Once a pterygium develops, the tissue is fibrous and will not shrink naturally. For many individuals, the growth may remain relatively small and stable for years, causing only minor irritation. However, the growth is chronic, meaning it can slowly continue to spread across the cornea toward the center of the eye.
The presence of a pterygium can cause uncomfortable symptoms, especially when it becomes inflamed. Common complaints include persistent redness, a burning sensation, and the feeling that grit is stuck in the eye. If the growth advances across the cornea, it begins to alter the eye’s surface curvature, which can induce or worsen astigmatism. This change in the cornea’s shape causes blurred or distorted vision, and if the pterygium reaches the pupil, it can physically block the line of sight.
Treatment Options
For small pterygia that are not progressing or significantly affecting vision, management focuses on relieving symptoms. Conservative treatment involves the regular use of lubricating drops, often called artificial tears, to keep the eye moisturized and reduce dryness. When the eye experiences acute inflammation or significant redness, a healthcare provider may prescribe a short course of mild anti-inflammatory or steroid eye drops. These drops help manage the swelling and irritation but do not remove the growth itself.
Surgery remains the only method to physically remove the pterygium. The procedure is recommended when the growth threatens vision, causes significant astigmatism, or leads to severe, chronic discomfort that does not respond to drops. The standard surgical technique involves excision of the abnormal tissue followed by a conjunctival autograft.
During this autograft procedure, a small, healthy piece of the patient’s own conjunctiva is harvested and transplanted to cover the area where the pterygium was removed. This technique is preferred because it significantly lowers the chance of the growth returning, with recurrence rates generally falling between 5% and 10%. If there is not enough healthy conjunctival tissue available, a surgeon may use a donated amniotic membrane graft to cover the surgical site instead.