How successful is pterygium surgery?
How successful is pterygium surgery?
Corneal surgeons have explored many different surgical techniques in order to improve outcomes and reduce pterygium recurrence. The overall recurrence rate after pterygium surgery has significantly declined from as high as 30 to 82 percent over the past few decades to less than 10 percent now.
What kind of doctor performs pterygium?
Treatment for pterygium In cases in which the growth is unsightly or vision is threatened, your ophthalmologist may recommend surgical removal of the tissue.
Can pterygium grow back after surgery?
Unfortunately, a pterygium will often grow back after surgery to remove it. (This may be more likely if you are under age 40.) Sometimes the growth that comes back causes worse symptoms than the original one. Your eye care provider might find it even harder to remove this new growth.
Can pterygium be removed by laser?
Pterygium surgery may be the best remedy. Dr. Jeehee Kim at Polaris Eye & Laser in Los Gatos, California can perform pterygium removal surgery that will correct this issue and lower the chances of regrowth.
Is pterygium removal safe?
There are a couple of risks associated with these operations. In some cases, a pterygium can return after being surgically removed. Your eye might also feel dry and irritated after surgery. Your doctor can prescribe medications to provide relief and reduce the risk of having a pterygium grow back.
Can pterygium be removed without surgery?
Treating a pterygium can be done without surgical removal. Smaller growths are usually treated with artificial tears to lubricate the eyes or mild steroid eye drops that counteract redness and swelling.
What do you need to know about pterygium surgery?
What to Expect with Pterygium Surgery. Overview. Pterygium surgery is a procedure performed to remove noncancerous conjunctiva growths (pterygia) from the eye. The conjunctiva is the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. Some cases of a pterygium produce little to no symptoms.
Can the pterygium grow back?
Unfortunately, this led to a high rate of pterygium regrowth. A newer technique fills the gap in the conjunctiva left by the removal of the pterygium with a graft of tissue removed from under the eyelid.
Is pterygium surgery covered by vision insurance?
Until your eye doctor orders the surgery, it is considered an elective surgery, so your vision insurance is unlikely to cover the treatment. The average reported cost, as of 2019, for pterygium surgery and associated treatment is $3,825.
What is a pterygium and how dangerous is it?
A pterygium is a benign wedge or bump of something like flesh that grows on your eye. Without treatment, it might slowly change the shape of your cornea and cause vision loss or problems. More likely, this bump will be irritating or painful, so many people want it removed for that reason.
