Pterygia surgery: The experience of having a pterygium removed

A pterygium (plural pterygia) is an abnormal wing-shaped fold of the conjunctiva which invades the corneal surface. It can induce significant astigmatism and, should it encroach on the pupil, visual impairment.

Pterygia are reported to occur more in men than women. It is uncommon for patients to present with pterygia before the age of 20 and patients older than 40 have a significantly higher incidence.

Pterygia can be unilateral or bilateral and can appear on nasal or temporal cornea, although nasal presentation is more common.

My pterygia first started to appear in 1999 and, following a consultation with a local ophthalmologist, it was thought that they would not develop enough to need surgery. I had never done anything to increase my risk of getting pterygia (prolonged exposure to UV radiation or dry, dusty environments) and they didn’t seem to develop further until around five years ago, but were always a great discussion point with pre-reg optometrists.