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Pterygium: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
A pterygium, or pterygium, is a fleshy, triangular growth of the conjunctiva of the eyeball that can extend onto the cornea and affect its curvature, causing astigmatism and a change in the refractive power of the eye. Symptoms may include decreased vision and a foreign body sensation. It is more common in hot, dry climates. Removal is indicated for cosmetic purposes, to reduce irritation, and to improve or preserve vision.
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What causes pterygium?
Irritation, wind, dust, frequent temperature changes can provoke the growth of pterygium, which often leads to visual impairment.
Pterygium usually develops in people who have lived or live in places with hot climates, and can also be a response to chronic dryness and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Symptoms of Pterygium
- A small, grayish clouding of the cornea that develops from the nasal part of the limbus.
- The conjunctiva progressively grows onto the cornea in the form of a triangle.
- Iron elements (Stocker's line) may be found in the corneal epithelium in the region of the pterygium head.
Complications of pterygium include chronic irritation, significant visual impairment due to pterygium reaching the visual zone, astigmatism, or rupture of the precorneal tear film. Pterygium may occasionally become inflamed, requiring short courses of mild topical corticosteroids.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Treatment of pterygium
Treatment of pterygium is indicated for cosmetic reasons or pterygium ingrowth into the visual zone. Pterygium moves rather slowly towards the center of the cornea, connecting with Boyman's membrane and the superficial layer of the stroma. To stop the growth of pterygium and prevent recurrence, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agents are used (drops "Alomid", "Lecrolin", dexanos, maxidex, oftan-dexamethasone, hydrocortisone-POS).
Surgical treatment (operation) of pterygium should be performed during the period when the film has not yet covered the central area of the cornea. When excising a recurrent pterygium, marginal layered keratoplasty is performed. After removal of the pterygium, persistent superficial corneal opacity remains.