Does pterygium need surgery? Is the pterygium surgery risky?
Pterygium is what the common people say is the extra flesh on the white eyeball. It grows on the black eyeball, usually on the inner corner of the eye and the white eyeball on the inside of the eyeball.
Pterygium is related to outdoor work, wind and sand, and UV stimulation. It is also related to the proliferation of conjunctival tissue caused by chronic inflammation such as frequent eye rubbing, staying up late, smoking, drinking, and wearing contact lenses.
If the pterygium grows to the black eyeball, it is recommended to perform the surgery as soon as possible, otherwise it will affect the black eyeball if it grows to the center. Moreover, even if the pterygium is removed at that time, the cornea will not be as transparent as before, because the pterygium grows into the cornea like a tree root, and surgery can only cut off the pterygium tissue on the surface of the cornea. But the roots that grow into the cornea cannot be cut off.
Pterygium surgery is usually done by local anesthesia, the cost is not high, and the hospitalization usually takes three days. I came to check on the first day, had an operation on the second day, and was discharged from the hospital on the third day. There are two ways of surgery. If the pterygium is small, simply remove the pterygium. If the pterygium is large, you need to cut a little white eyeball tissue at another location after the pterygium is cut, and fill it to the position of the pterygium removal, need stitches.
Pterygium surgery risks:
1. The main risk is the possibility of recurrence of pterygium, depending on individual differences and whether it is still outdoors in sand, ultraviolet rays, and some people. It relapses within half a year, and some people do not relapse for more than ten years.
2. The patch on the pterygium did not survive and requires another operation.
3. Because the pterygium has a lot of stitches, the eyes will shed tears. It takes 1-2 weeks to remove the stitches to get better.
4. Anesthetic allergy is the same as penicillin cephalosporin allergy. Some people are more important than others.
5. Because of the stitches, the cornea is plucked out just like clothes, so there may be astigmatism after the operation, and the vision may not be as clear as before. But the general impact will not be too great. 6. Postoperative infection. This is a routine surgical risk. You need to instill eye drops as prescribed by your doctor and review regularly. Do not get water into your eyes after surgery or rub your eyes vigorously.
7. Postoperative bleeding is also a routine risk. The amount of blood depends on the size of the pterygium and the difference in coagulation function.
8. Hormonal eye drops are needed after surgery, which may cause increased intraocular pressure and secondary glaucoma. Generally, it is fine. Very few sensitive people will have increased intraocular pressure, but after stopping the medication, most people can generally decrease the intraocular pressure.
9. Dry eyes, because the cornea becomes uneven by the pterygium, it will cause the tear film to become unstable and cause dry eyes.
Finally, generally based on clinical manifestations, it can be almost diagnosed as pterygium, but the final diagnosis must be based on the pathology of the pterygium tissue cut after surgery. Most people have postoperative pathology with pterygium tissue, and very few people have conjunctival tissue. Or cancer.
