Pterygium

In many cases pinguecula and pterygium do not need to be treated. However, if your eyes are uncomfortable or your vision is affected, you may need treatment.

Pinguecula treatment

Drops to lubricate your eyes can help relieve irritation from pinguecula. They also help relieve that annoying feeling as if you have something in your eye. If pinguecula causes redness and swelling in your eye, we may prescribe steroid eye drops.

Usually eye drops can relieve any discomfort from pinguecula, and surgery is usually not recommended or needed.

Pterygium treatment

Usually we can treat the discomfort, redness or swelling from a pterygium with lubricating or steroid eye drops.

If a pterygium grows large enough to cause problems, we will probably recommend surgery to remove it. Once the pterygium is removed, we may transplant a thin piece of normal tissue onto the affected area. This technique helps reduce the chance that your pterygium will grow back.

The best way to keep pinguecula and pterygium from coming back is to avoid sunlight, dryness and dust.