PTERYGIUM & PINGUECULA Treatment IN LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY & THE INLAND EMPIRE

Condition

Pterygium is a benign, elevated growth from the conjunctiva (“white part of the eye”) onto the cornea (in front of the colored part of the eye). Pinguecula is a yellow deposit or elevation on only the conjunctiva (“white part of the eye”). The conjunctiva is a clear mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids, serving to lubricate the eye and to prevent microbes from entering the eye.

Both Pterygium and Pinguecula are associated with excessive UV light exposure (i.e. sunlight), wind, and dust. Pterygium can cause distortion of the cornea, severely affecting vision or blocking the vision completely. Corneal scarring underneath the Pterygium can also occur, making it very important for them to be removed before becoming too large, permanently affecting the patient’s vision.

Symptoms of both Pterygium and Pinguecula include burning, itching, tearing, redness, and scratchy sensation in the eye. Cosmetically, a Pterygium or Pinguecula can impact the social and professional life of the patient. The affected eye often has a red, distorted appearance. Because of this, many patients state that they are wrongly accused of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Pterygium and Pinguecula that cause mild inflammation can usually be treated with steroid drops, lubricant eye drops, or a prescribed ointment. However, these are often just a temporary solution, and the Pterygium or Pinguecula must eventually be surgically removed. The Pterygium/Pinguecula surgery lasts approximately thirty minutes and has a recovery time of only a couple of days.

When the Pterygium or Pinguecula is removed, conjunctiva underneath is also extracted. The special “Auto-graft” technique our surgeons at Laser Eye Center™ use replaces this tissue with the patient’s own conjunctival tissue that is surgically removed from the healthy conjunctiva superiorly (not visible, as it is hidden underneath the upper eyelid). This “self-tissue” is then fixated using medical adhesive. This advanced technique significantly decreases the risk of regression or recurrence. Ensuring a healthy tear film as well as protection from the sun, dust and wind is also very important.

Informational Video for Pterygium

Technology

Auto-graft technique for pterygium removal

The auto-graft technique is a key advance in pterygium removal decreasing recurrence rates substantially. This technique uses a patient’s own healthy eye tissue to replace portions of tissue that are excised when the pterygium is surgically removed. A surgeon applies anesthetic drops to numb the eye, removes the pterygium, then uses a self-transplant technique to fill the area with healthy conjunctival tissue. The transplanted conjunctival tissue is affixed to the target area by either sutures or a special fibrin adhesive. Although sutures are less expensive, fibrin glue cuts recovery time, while reducing inflammation and discomfort. The procedure is quick and routine, with a low risk for complications. The patient receives topical antibiotics and anti-inflammation drops, and wears a patch for the next 24 hours