Up to now, no clear cause has ever been identified. Both hereditary and environmental factors may play a role. In any case, UV light seems to be an important factor in its occurrence, as pterygium is more common in sunny climates and people who work a lot in the open air are also at greater risk of pterygium. In addition, chronic irritation of the eyes due to a dry, dusty environment seems to play a role.
A pterygium doesn’t necessarily cause any symptoms. However, it can cause the following complaints:
The eye and the cornea are first examined in detail to make a proper diagnosis and draw up a treatment plan. In addition to the standard examinations, the following ones are specifically important in the case of a (possible) pterygium:
Eye drops or ointment may be prescribed to reduce the burning sensation in the eye. However, if the pterygium grows so far over your cornea that your vision is impaired, the pterygium can be surgically removed (pterygium excision).
