Pterygium Surgery - Treating Pterygium

Pterygium is one of more common eye conditions we encounter in our offices in New York and New Jersey. Pterygium is an abnormal growth of tissue over the eye. It is often progressive and encroaches over the cornea. The cornea is the clear part of the eyes that is responsible for the transmission of light. Therefore, Pterygium can cause reduction in vision, by causing scarring, distortion or by physically blocking the light. It is also cosmetically unsightly and can cause irritation and recurrent swelling and irritation especially with exposure to the sun. It is believed to be a result of excessive exposure to the UV rays of the sun during childhood.

Treatment:

Surgical treatment for Pterygium has traditionally been very challenging due to the very high recurrence rates, the long recovery period, and the post-operative pain and discomfort. However, most recent innovative surgical techniques that have been adopted by Dr. Ilan Cohen in New York and New Jersey have helped reduce surgical time, recurrence rates and post-operative pain as well as post-operative recovery time. It is important to realize that this condition has a high recurrence rate and by using the latest surgical techniques we can optimize the outcomes, but not completely eliminate them.

Traditional Pterygium surgery:

In traditional Pterygium surgery the surgeon removes the Pterygium and leaves that part of the eye without a protective coat, hoping that tissue will grow and cover it properly (bare sclera technique). Alternatively, he may choose to replace the Pterygium with tissue obtained from a different site in the same eye and attach it with sutures (Pterygium with graft). Either with the “graft technique” or the “bare sclera” technique, there is a great deal of discomfort to the patient. This is the result of either sutures sticking in the eye or lack of protective barrier.

Suture-less Pterygium with amniotic membrane:

In this procedure the Pterygium is removed and then replaced by amniotic membrane. This tissue envelopes the fetus in the womb during pregnancy and is found to have properties that provide better healing and protection. This tissue is attached to the surgical site without any sutures utilizing tissue glue. This glue is similar to the naturally occurring blood clot components and reduces surgical time as well as increasing post-operative comfort for the patient.

Our Commitment:

We, the doctors and the staff of the Fifth Avenue Eye Center are committed to providing you with the best surgical solutions available anywhere in the world and have offices located in New York and New Jersey.