How can pterygia be treated?
In cases where the pterygium is not actively growing on to the cornea, protecting the eyes from ultraviolet light often will stabilise its growth. In many cases, provided it is not threatening vision and it remains stable, this may be all that is required. In cases where the pterygium is actively growing on to the cornea and threatening to distort the vision, the only effective treatment is surgical removal. Fortunately this is relatively minor surgery that is usually performed under a local anaesthetic. Your optometrist can assess the pterygium and refer you to an eye surgeon if it requires removal.
