What is PTERYGIUM?
Pterygium, which is locally known as “pugita,” is a pinkish, triangular tissue growth commonly seen on the exposed part of the cornea, starting from the limbus and eventually grows toward the center of the cornea. It is caused by too much exposure to UV radiation from the sun, therefore it is usually seen in countries with a tropical climate like the Philippines. Those who work under the heat of the sun like farmers, fishermen, and seamen, and those who are actively outdoors are more prone to having one.
SYMPTOMS
The most common symptom is the note of a fleshy mass on the nasal limbus. Other symptoms are redness, pain, foreign body sensation, tearing, and blurring of vision in advanced cases.
TREATMENT
Early in the disease, treatment may be confined to lubrication for symptom relief. Surgery is reserved for advanced cases because simple excision of the mass is prone to recurrence, especially in patients under 40 years old. Combining the excision with other surgical techniques such as conjunctival autograft or amnion graft decreases the risk of recurrence after the procedure.