What is a pterygium?
A pterygium (in Hebrew, tavlul) is a benign growth of fibrovascular tissue that begins on the conjunctiva — the clear membrane covering the white of the eye — and can extend onto the cornea, the transparent front surface of the eye. It typically starts at the inner corner of the eye and advances slowly toward the pupil. Pterygia are strongly associated with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, wind and dust, which is why they are especially common in sunny, dry climates such as Israel.
Although a pterygium is not cancerous, it tends to progress over time. As it grows it can cause redness, burning, dryness, a foreign-body sensation and — once it reaches the cornea — blurred vision and astigmatism. Because an advancing pterygium can leave scarring, early assessment is worthwhile.
Symptoms of pterygium
Common symptoms include a visible fleshy growth on the white of the eye, redness, irritation, tearing, dryness and the feeling of something in the eye. When the growth encroaches on the cornea it can flatten or distort its curvature, producing astigmatism and reduced or blurred vision.
What causes a pterygium?
The leading cause is cumulative UV exposure. Additional risk factors include chronic exposure to wind, dust and dry air, and spending long periods outdoors — particularly in hot, sunny regions. Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat is the single most effective way to reduce the risk.
How is a pterygium diagnosed?
Diagnosis is straightforward: an ophthalmologist examines the surface of the eye with a slit lamp — a specialized microscope — to assess the size, location and extent of the growth and whether it is affecting the cornea. In advanced cases, additional measurements of the cornea may be taken to evaluate its effect on vision.
Treatment options
Mild cases are managed conservatively with lubricating and anti-inflammatory drops to relieve dryness and irritation. These do not remove the pterygium but ease symptoms. Surgery is considered when the pterygium threatens vision, grows toward the center of the cornea, causes significant discomfort, or is cosmetically troubling.
The modern approach is excision combined with a conjunctival autograft secured with tissue glue rather than sutures. This suture-free technique reduces pain, shortens healing, minimizes scarring and substantially lowers the chance of recurrence compared with older methods.
Why choose an experienced cornea surgeon
Pterygium surgery is technically demanding, and outcomes — especially the recurrence rate — depend heavily on surgical experience and technique. Prof. Michael Mimouni is a senior cornea surgeon and former Chairman of the Israeli Cornea Society, performing pterygium surgery with modern, suture-free, autograft-based methods.