Modern Treatments for Pterygium: What Are Your Options?

A pterygium, often called "surfer's eye," is a benign triangular-shaped growth on the eye's conjunctiva (the white part of your eye). Some pterygia extend into the iris.

Untreated, a pterygium can cause irritation, redness, and even vision changes.

At InVision Eye Care, our team of experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists provides advanced pterygium treatments in our state-of-the-art facility in Lakewood, NJ. We proudly serve patients from Ocean County, Monmouth County, and throughout New Jersey, offering tailored solutions to meet your eye care needs.

Below, you can learn more about pterygia and how modern treatments can help protect your vision and eye health.

What Causes Pterygium?

Pterygium is commonly associated with prolonged exposure to UV light, dry or dusty environments, and irritation from wind. While the exact cause varies, some risk factors include:

• Spending significant time outdoors without proper eye protection
• Living in sunny or dry climates
• Having a history of dry eye syndrome

If you notice symptoms like redness, swelling, or a visible growth in your eye, we recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as possible.

Modern Treatments for Pterygium

Our practice offers several effective modern treatment options for managing a pterygium, depending on its severity and your symptoms. Treatments may include:

Nonsurgical Options

We often recommend nonsurgical treatments as the first approach for a smaller pterygium.

Nonsurgical treatment focuses on relieving symptoms like dryness, irritation, and swelling. Often, lubricating eye drops provide relief, but in some cases, patients with pterygium may need steroid eye drops to manage swelling.

In addition, we recommend wearing glasses versus contact lenses for vision correction when patients have pterygium.

Surgery for Pterygium

Our team closely monitors your pterygium using corneal topography and advanced imaging. If the pterygium keeps growing and distorting your cornea to cause vision issues, we may recommend surgical removal.

Should you need surgery, our cornea specialists use advanced techniques to safely remove the extra tissue at the state-of-the-art Seashore Surgical Institute.

Our approaches minimize recurrence. Protecting your eyes after treatment with sunglasses and avoiding irritants can further reduce risks.

Benefits of Treating a Pterygium

Choosing a timely pterygium treatment plan can improve your comfort and eye health, now and long-term. Benefits include:

• Reduced redness and irritation
• Reduces dryness
• Restored clear vision
• Improved eye appearance

It's also important to know that treating your pterygium now reduces your risk of complications like corneal scarring and astigmatism.

Modern Pterygium Treatments in Lakewood, NJ

If you're experiencing symptoms of a pterygium and need expert care, call InVision Eye Care at 732-210-0140 to book an appointment with any of our experienced doctors. Our team is here to support your vision needs, serving patients in Lakewood, Ocean County, Monmouth County, and the state of New Jersey.