Pterygium Surgery

Pterygium surgery — what it is and why it matters

A pterygium is a benign growth that develops on the surface of the conjunctiva and can extend toward the cornea. In many cases a pterygium causes no major problems, but when it grows and advances onto the cornea it can lead to visual disturbance, discomfort and dryness. Surgery to remove a pterygium becomes important when the growth begins to interfere with vision or quality of life.

When is surgery recommended?

Surgery is generally advised when the pterygium encroaches on the cornea and threatens vision, causes significant or persistent irritation that does not respond to drops, produces astigmatism, or is cosmetically bothersome. Small, stable growths that cause no symptoms can often simply be monitored.

How the operation works

Pterygium surgery is performed under local anesthesia and is painless. The surgeon removes the abnormal tissue and then reconstructs the surface. In the modern approach, the excised area is covered with a graft of the patient’s own healthy conjunctiva — a conjunctival autograft — secured with tissue glue rather than sutures. This replaces the diseased tissue with healthy tissue and is the key to a low recurrence rate.

Recovery and outcome

Most patients return to everyday activities within a few days, with redness and mild irritation settling over one to two weeks. Anti-inflammatory and lubricating drops support healing. The main long-term risk is recurrence, which is minimized by the autograft technique and by protecting the eye from UV exposure afterward.

The role of surgical experience

Because outcomes depend heavily on technique, choosing an experienced cornea surgeon is important. Prof. Michael Mimouni performs pterygium surgery using modern, suture-free autograft methods aimed at a durable, single-procedure result.