PTERYGIUM SURGERY
What is pterygium?
Pterygium is a fleshy overgrowth of the conjunctiva that may affect one or both eyes. Excessive exposure to sunlight in people who spend time outdoors and chronic eye irritation are major risk factors giving rise to pterygium.
Can pterygium affect the vision?
Yes, advanced pterygium can cause blurring of vision and can also sometimes corneal opacity. The corneal opacity caused by pterygium will remain lifelong and it does not get cured even after pterygium correction surgery
What is pterygium surgery? What do you mean by autograft?
Pterygium surgery is simple excision of pterygium from the cornea and conjunctiva leaving bare sclera. Conjunctival auto-grafting is a surgical technique that is an effective and safe procedure for pterygium removal. When the pterygium is removed, the tissue that covers the sclera known as the Tenon's layer is also removed. Auto-grafting covers the bare selera with conjunctival tissue that is surgically removed from an area of healthy conjunctiva. That "self-tissue" (autograft) is then transplanted to the bare sclera and is fixated using sutures or tissue adhesive.
What is MMC?
MMC stands for Mitomycin C which is used as a fibroblast proliferation inhibitor during the surgery to reduce the changes of recurrence of pterygium.
Vision improvement and post-operative discomfort after pterygium surgery.
Post procedure you might require spectacles for a good quality of vision which will be prescribed after 6-8 weeks of follow up. Post operatively you will experience discomfort in the form of pain, watering, foreign body sensation & sometimes redness. These symptoms will reduce once you start using post op medication.
What are the newer advances in corneal surgery?
Additional technologies such as intraoperative anterior segment OCT is useful to scan the cornea during the surgery to allow experts to see cornea's condition on table. The digital 3D Artevo microscope enhances the cornea view digitally to enable surgeon to allow complex procedures.
What are the chances of reoccurrence?
Reoccurrence rate post pterygium surgery is around 1.9% -5.3%.
What are the complications of corneal surgery?
Itching, light sensitivity, infection, bleeding, diplopia, conjunctival graft dehiscence, perforation of the globe (rare), retinal detachment (rare), glare, haloes, corneal scarring, thick glasses may be need,
chances of loss of vision or loss of eye.
