Pterygium

A pterygium is an excessive growth of scar-like tissue onto the surface of the cornea. It can cause redness and irritation. An advanced case of pterygia can affect vision by causing corneal irregularity or by growing over the center of the cornea, but it can be treated with surgery.

Pterygium Excision

When a pterygium requires removal it can be surgically excised. To reduce the chance of it coming back (occasionally as bad or worse than it was to begin with), some of the uninvolved conjunctiva from under the upper eyelid is moved down to help heal the area from which the pterygium was removed. Even so, it can still recur.