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Kylie Koak

Ms. Cook

PRO

11 November 2019

Pterygium

A pterygium, also known as surfer’s eye, is a fibrovascular tissue that grows in a

triangular shape over the cornea of the eye. It is usually a white color that can turn red if it

becomes inflamed. Pterygia are more common in areas of drier climate and has high UV

exposure. People who spend a lot of time outdoors with eye protection are more likely to develop

pterygia.

Pterygium are similar to pingueculae in the way that they form on the eye’s surface. They

are both degenerations of the skin, however, visually they look different and progress differently

as well. Pingueculae are more oval-shaped and have a yellow coloring to it. It forms a raised

bump on the eye, which differs from the wedge-shaped layer of tissue that pterygium form.

Pingueculae are less serious that pterygium; it does not spread further to the center of the eye as

pterygium do.

Ways to treat pterygium vary from how severe it is. For a lot of patients, it is advised that

they avoid smoke, dusty, or polluted areas as well as wear UV-blocking sunglasses to prevent the

pterygium from growing. Another form of treatment involves using topical cortisone eye drops.

If eye drops do not work, surgery is needed to remove the pterygium. However, for some
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patients pterygium are recurring, and it is suspected that in those cases, pterygium is genetic and

not caused by outside factors.

Works Cited

"Pterygium." Review of Optometry, 15 June 2014, p. 24A+. Gale OneFile: Health and

Medicine,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A373890892/HRCA?u=j191901001&sid=HRCA&xid=22fe6532.

Accessed 13 Nov. 2019.