If you notice a pink or whitish triangular tissue gradually growing from the corner of your eye toward the iris, accompanied by redness, irritation, or a gritty sensation, you may be experiencing pterygium. While it may look alarming, pterygium is a benign (non-cancerous) growth — but it requires monitoring and, in many cases, medical or surgical treatment to prevent vision impairment.
Key Takeaways
- Pterygium is a triangular, fleshy growth of conjunctival tissue that can spread onto the cornea.
- Key symptoms include redness, irritation, a gritty sensation, and — in advanced cases — astigmatism and blurred vision
- Surgical removal combined with conjunctival autograft reduces recurrence to only 5–10%.
- UV radiation from sunlight is the primary environmental risk factor.
What Is Pterygium?
Pterygium is a wedge-shaped overgrowth of the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye) that invades the cornea. It most often begins at the inner corner of the eye (near the nose) and gradually grows inward. If it reaches the pupil, it can obstruct vision and induce astigmatism by distorting the corneal surface. In addition to its visual effects, pterygium often causes chronic discomfort and cosmetic concerns.
- เปรียบเทียบความคุ้มค่าของแต่ละเทคนิคการผ่าตัดลอกต้อเนื้ออย่างละเอียดได้ที่ : รักษาต้อเนื้อ ราคา
Symptoms of Pterygium
Pterygium is a condition that is clearly visible externally. The severity of the pterygium depends on its size and the inflammation that spreads into the cornea. Symptoms of pterygium include:
- Visible triangular or wing-shaped tissue (white-pink or yellowish) on the white of the eye, often with visible blood vessels running through it.
- A persistent gritty or foreign-body sensation — as if something is in the eye.
- Redness and swelling of the affected area, particularly after exposure to wind, dust, smoke, or sunlight.
- Reflex tearing or an urge to rub the eye, which can worsen inflammation and increase infection risk.
- Blurred vision or induced astigmatism if the pterygium grows onto the central cornea.
Causes of Pterygium
Pterygium results from UV-induced degeneration of collagen fibers in the conjunctival tissue, triggering abnormal cell proliferation. Prolonged sun exposure is the main environmental driver.
- ไขข้อข้องใจความแตกต่างระหว่างต้อลมและต้อเนื้อ ได้ที่ : ต้อลม ต้อเนื้อ
Risk Factors
Lifestyle, habits and daily environmental factors significantly accelerate conjunctival degeneration, with the following major risk factors contributing to pterygium:
- Genetic predisposition: A family history of pterygium significantly increases risk.
- Congenital Diseases: Diabetes mellitus associated with greater susceptibility to ocular tissue degeneration.
- Dry Eyes: pre-existing eye irritation promotes conjunctival inflammation.
- Environmental exposure: living or working outdoors in dusty, windy, or sunny conditions.
- Daily Eye Use: Prolonged digital device use without adequate blinking which contributing to eye surface dryness.
- Chemical exposure: Working or living in an area with chemicals that irritate the eyes for extended periods of time.
Warning signs that indicate the need for prompt pterygium surgery
When a pterygium grows large enough to obstruct the pupil, it can cause blurred vision that worsens over time. In some cases, the fibrous tissue pulls on the cornea, leading to astigmatism and distorted sight. If you notice chronic eye redness, persistent irritation that lubricating eye drops cannot relieve, or visible changes to your eye's appearance, these are clear signs that pterygium surgery is necessary. Consulting an ophthalmologist early is the most effective way to prevent permanent vision damage and restore clear, comfortable eyesight.
- Learn more about the warning signs of cataracts and eye lens replacement technology: Cataract
Guidelines for diagnosing pterygium
An accurate pterygium diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a qualified ophthalmologist, who will assess the severity of the growth and rule out other eye conditions that present with similar symptoms. The key diagnostic steps include:
- Medical History Review: The ophthalmologist will gather information about the patient's lifestyle habits — such as working outdoors under direct sunlight, exposure to dust, smoke, air pollution, or chemical irritants — as well as family history, since genetics play a significant role in increasing pterygium risk.
- Slit-Lamp Eye Examination: This is the primary diagnostic tool used to examine the fibrous tissue, blood vessel patterns, and the extent to which the pterygium has grown onto the corneal surface, allowing the doctor to clearly assess the stage and severity of the condition.
- Anterior Segment Photography: High-resolution imaging of the front surface of the eye is used to document the pterygium's current size and monitor any changes in its progression accurately over time.
- Differential Diagnosis: The ophthalmologist may perform additional assessments to distinguish pterygium from other conditions that appear similar, such as pinguecula — a milder, non-invasive conjunctival growth — or more serious conditions such as Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia (OSSN), a form of eye surface cancer that requires prompt treatment.
- Warning signs that diabetic patients should watch out for, and how to check and prevent complications before it's too late: Diabetic retinopathy.
Treatment
Pterygium is a condition affecting the eye. Treatment depends on the severity and size of the pterygium. An ophthalmologist will consider options ranging from medication to relieve symptoms to surgery if the pterygium has grown and obstructed vision.
Conservative (Non-Surgical) Treatment
• Lubricating eye drops to relieve dryness and reduce irritation.
• Anti-inflammatory eye drops to control redness and swelling.
• Protective UV-blocking sunglasses to prevent further growth.
Surgical Removal Treatment
Surgery is recommended when the pterygium causes significant visual impairment, chronic discomfort, or cosmetic concern. The standard procedure is pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft — removing the pterygium and transplanting a small piece of the patient's own healthy conjunctival tissue to the site, significantly reducing the risk of recurrence to just 5–10%, compared to 30–50% with simple excision alone.
- Post-operative care and recovery guide for healthy eyes: Pterygium removal - how many days of recovery are needed?
Post-operative Care After Pterygium Surgery
Proper post-operative care after pterygium removal is the most important step to promote faster wound healing and reduce the chance of recurrence, a common problem if prevention is neglected.
- Instill eye drops or apply ointment as prescribed by ophthalmologist to reduce inflammation and relieve irritation.
- If your work involves exposure to UV radiation or chemical irritants, always wear appropriate protective equipment such as safety glasses or a full face shield to shield your eyes from harm.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes — rubbing can cause the surgical wound to separate, trigger inflammation, or introduce infection, all of which may lead to serious post-operative complications.
- Stay away from outdoor environments with dust, smoke, strong wind, or intense sunlight. If going outdoors is unavoidable, wear wraparound sunglasses that offer strong UV protection and wind resistance to minimize irritation and reduce the risk of pterygium recurrence.
- Limit prolonged screen time and continuous near-work activities to reduce eye fatigue and prevent excessive eye dryness. Chronic dryness and irritation can stimulate the conditions that lead to pterygium regrowth after surgery.
- Do not self-medicate with steroid eye drops or use them continuously for longer than prescribed by your doctor, as this may increase intraocular pressure, increasing the risk ofGlaucoma and permanent vision loss.
How To Prevent Pterygium?
Preventing pterygium focuses on reducing eye irritation and protecting the conjunctiva from external triggers that cause cellular degeneration.
- Avoid environments with dry wind, excessive heat, smoke, and airborne particles that can chronically irritate the eye's surface and accelerate conjunctival tissue breakdown.
- Limit exposure to intense sunlight — particularly between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM — and always wear wraparound sunglasses that provide UV protection, dust resistance, and wind shielding whenever outdoors.
- Use artificial tears when experiencing dry eyes and take regular breaks from screen time to prevent eye surface dryness and reduce the cumulative strain that can trigger pterygium development.
- If you notice any abnormal tissue growth on the white of your eye, consult an ophthalmologist promptly for a professional diagnosis.
- Discover how retinal conditions can silently threaten your vision and explore the latest treatment options: Retinovitreous
Pterygium can be treated at Thai Eye Hospital
Pterygium is an eye condition triggered by prolonged UV exposure and environmental pollutants that cause the conjunctiva to degenerate, forming an invasive fibrous growth that leads to chronic irritation and progressive vision disturbance. While anti-inflammatory eye drops can help manage symptoms, a complete and lasting cure requires surgical pterygium removal performed by a specialist ophthalmologist — combined with consistent UV-protective habits to minimize the risk of recurrence and preserve long-term eye health.
Restore clarity to your vision with expert pterygium surgery at Thai Eye Hospital. We perform pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft — a precise surgical technique that significantly reduces the chance of recurrence by replacing the removed tissue with the patient's own healthy conjunctival cells. Backed by advanced diagnostic technology and comprehensive post-operative care, we are committed to delivering safe, effective results you can trust — so you can see the world clearly, comfortably, and with confidence.
Contact Us
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How Long Is the Recovery After Pterygium Surgery?
A: In most cases, the surgical wound begins to heal within one week. During the first 1–3 days, patients may experience mild irritation, tearing, or light sensitivity — all of which are normal parts of the healing process. Patients are generally advised to rest their eyes and take approximately 3–5 days off work, following their ophthalmologist's specific recommendations. It is also essential to keep water out of the eye for at least one week after surgery to prevent infection and support proper wound healing.
Q: Can pterygium heal on its own?
A: Small, stable pterygia that are not affecting vision may be managed with eye drops and monitoring. However, they do not disappear spontaneously and require surgery if they grow toward the cornea.
Q: Will pterygium come back after surgery?
A: Recurrence rates vary by technique. With conjunctival autograft (the standard of care), recurrence rates are approximately 5–10%. Following post-operative care instructions and UV protection are key to preventing regrowth.
References
- Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye). (2024, May 28). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22497-pterygium-surfers-eye
- Cesar A Briceno, MD. (2026, January 13). What Is a Pinguecula and a Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye)?. American Academy of Ophthamology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/pinguecula-pterygium
- Pterygium. (2023, November 8). Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/pterygium
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