Pterygium Removal

No-Stitch Pterygium Surgery —
More Comfortable Removal — Shorter Recovery!*

We invite you to make an appointment and learn more: 480-981-6111.

Pterygium (pronounced "tur-RIDGE-ium") is a pinkish-yellow, triangular-shaped benign tissue growth starting from the nasal area of your eye and grows toward the cornea. As a pterygium grows, it can be varied in its appearance from small and pink to large and angry red with symptoms of dry eye. Eventually, it may cause visual disturbances by disrupting the normally smooth surface of the cornea. In severe cases, a pterygium can block a patient's vision altogether.

 

  Before Pterygium Removal  After Pterygium Removal   

Dr. Jonathan Kao performs state-of-the-art pterygium removal surgery and is well known for his "no-stitch" surgical technique and instrumentation. He performs a complete excision of this lesion using no stitches during this surgery, and instead applies a special surgical glue*. This highly specialized method for pterygium removal has raised the bar in looks and comfort for patients with pterygium. Patients from all over the country come to East Valley Ophthalmology for the expertise of Dr. Kao and his method to remove pterygiums.

 

  Before Pterygium Removal  After Pterygium Removal   

Causes of Pterygium
Pterygia are more common in sunny climates and in the 20-40 age group. Scientists do not know what causes pterygia to develop. However, since people who have pterygia usually have spent a significant time outdoors, many doctors believe ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun may be a factor. In areas where sunlight is strong, wearing protective eyeglasses, sunglasses, and/or hats with brims are suggested. While some studies report a higher prevalence of pterygia in men than in women, this may reflect different rates of exposure to UV light.

Preventing Pterygium
The best method of preventing pterygium is to regularly wear UV 400 rated sunglasses when outdoors in sunny conditions. Sunglasses with a wrap-around design provide better protection than those with large gaps between the sunglass frame and the skin around the eyes. Wearing a hat with a wide brim provides valuable additional protection.

Treating Pterygium
In mild cases, pterygium redness and discomfort can be controlled with lubricant eye drops (artificial tears). When symptoms of redness, irritation, or blurred vision are resistant to conservative treatment, or when vision is affected by progressive growth of a pterygium, surgery is considered.

Pterygium Surgery

History of Pterygium Surgery
In pterygium surgery, the abnormal tissue is removed from the cornea and sclera (white of the eye). Over the years, pterygium surgery has evolved significantly, and modern pterygium surgery has a significantly higher success rate than conventional surgery.

In traditional "bare sclera" pterygium removal, the underlying white of the eye (sclera) is left exposed. Healing occurs over two to four weeks with mild to moderate discomfort. Unfortunately, the pterygium may grow back in up to 50% of patients. In many cases, the pterygium grows back larger than its original size.

Over the years, surgeons have used several different techniques to lessen the likelihood of pterygium recurrence, including radiation treatment and the use of "antimetabolite" chemicals that prevent growth of tissue. Each of these techniques has risks that potentially threaten the health of the eye after surgery, including persistent epithelial defects (ulceration in the surface of the eye), and corneal melting.

Conjunctival Graft with Stitches
Most cornea specialists today perform pterygium surgery and cover the exposed area with a graft to reduce the risk of recurrence. There are two main sources of this graft. One is your own body; in this technique a thin layer of the white membrane, or conjunctiva, covering the eye is removed from beneath the upper eyelid. This is then moved over to fill the area where the pterygium once occupied. Although the procedure requires more surgical skill and time than traditional surgery, this "auto-graft" (self-transplant) helps prevent re-growth of the pterygium by filling the space where abnormal tissue would have re-grown.

The autograft is held in place with tiny stitches that may dissolve after a few weeks or can be removed in the surgeon's office. Stitches, however, may cause discomfort and a foreign body sensation.

Amniotic Membrane Graft
The other source of covering is amniotic membrane, which is a unique membrane derived from the submucosa of the placenta, the structure that provides nutrition to a developing fetus. The tissue is donated by consenting mothers and screened for infectious diseases according to FDA standards. Because of its' origin, amniotic membrane is filled with natural molecules that are anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring, and promote wound healing.

Regardless of the covering used, the desire for a quicker, more painless recovery has led to the development of no-stitch pterygium surgery.

No-stitch Pterygium Surgery*
No-stitch pterygium surgery allows most patients to return to work within one or two days of surgery. Research studies have shown that patients undergoing no-stitch surgery had significantly less pain and discomfort after surgery than those having traditional surgery. The no-stitch technique also reduced surgery time by 20-30%.

Technique for No-stitch Pterygium Surgery
In no-stitch surgery, the patient is lightly sedated to ensure comfort, and the eye is completely numbed, so there is no way to see the surgery occurring and no sensation of discomfort. The abnormal tissue is removed and replaced with a thin autograft or amniotic membrane. Over the next 2-4 weeks, the eye gradually returns to a normal appearance.

No-stitch surgery is made possible by the use of modern tissue adhesive. Composed of clotting proteins normally found in human blood, tissue adhesive allows the surgeon to secure a conjunctival autograft in seconds rather than minutes. After about one week the tissue adhesive dissolves with no residue, leaving the eye to heal comfortably. Although tissue adhesive is derived from human blood products, no cases of blood borne infection have ever been reported among millions of patients treated with this material in heart and lung surgery.

*Fibrin tissue adhesive is a drug approved by the FDA for abdominal surgery. Although its use in eye surgery has not yet been specifically approved by the FDA, our research suggests that this technique is a safe and effective alternative to eye surgery using stitches.

The eye specialists of East Valley Ophthalmology perform advanced technology diagnostic testing and treatment, as well as taking the time necessary to provide each patient with information needed to fully understand their condition and to achieve their best possible visual outcome.

If you would like further information, please call our office at:

480-981-6111

East Valley Ophthalmology

Eye Doctors - Mesa, Arizona

If you or a family member or friend have not had a recent routine eye examination, have a specific eye condition that needs addressing, or are looking for an eye specialist or professional eye consultant please take a moment to Request an Appointment.