| Pterygium (eye) | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Surfer's eye[1] |
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| Pterygium growing onto the cornea | |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology, Optometry |
| Symptoms | Pinkish, triangular tissue growth on the cornea[2] |
| Complications | Vision loss[2] |
| Usual onset | Gradual[2] |
| Causes | Unknown[2] |
| Risk factors | UV light, dust, genetics[2][3][4] |
| Differential diagnosis | Pinguecula, tumor, Terrien's marginal degeneration[5] |
| Prevention | Sunglasses, hat[2] |
| Treatment | None, eye lubricant, surgery[2] |
| Prognosis | Benign[6] |
| Frequency | 1% to 33%[7] |
A pterygium of the eye (pl.: pterygia or pterygiums, also called surfer's eye) is a pinkish, roughly triangular tissue growth of the conjunctiva onto the cornea of the eye.[2] It typically starts on the cornea near the nose.[3] It may slowly grow but rarely grows so large that it covers the pupil and impairs vision.[2] Often both eyes are involved.[5]
The cause is unclear.[2] It appears to be partly related to long term exposure to UV light and dust.[2][3] Genetic factors also appear to be involved.[4] It is a benign growth.[6] Other conditions that can look similar include a pinguecula, tumor, or Terrien's marginal corneal degeneration.[5]
Prevention may include wearing sunglasses and a hat if in an area with strong sunlight.[2] Among those with the condition, an eye lubricant can help with symptoms.[2] Surgical removal is typically only recommended if the ability to see is affected.[2] Following surgery a pterygium may recur in around half of cases.[2][6]
The frequency of the condition varies from 1% to 33% in various regions of the world.[7] It occurs more commonly among males than females and in people who live closer to the equator.[7] The condition becomes more common with age.[7] The condition has been described since at least 1000 BC.[8]
- ^ Tollefsbol, Trygve (2016). Medical Epigenetics. Academic Press. p. 395. ISBN 9780128032404. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Facts About the Cornea and Corneal Disease | National Eye Institute". The National Eye Institute (NEI). May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Yanoff, Myron; Duker, Jay S. (2009). Ophthalmology. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 364. ISBN 978-0323043328. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017.
- ^ a b Anguria, P; Kitinya, J; Ntuli, S; Carmichael, T (2014). "The role of heredity in pterygium development". International Journal of Ophthalmology. 7 (3): 563–73. doi:10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2014.03.31. PMC 4067677. PMID 24967209.
- ^ a b c Smolin, Gilbert; Foster, Charles Stephen; Azar, Dimitri T.; Dohlman, Claes H. (2005). Smolin and Thoft's The Cornea: Scientific Foundations and Clinical Practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 1003, 1005. ISBN 9780781742061. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Halperin, Edward C.; Perez, Carlos A.; Brady, Luther W. (2008). Perez and Brady's Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 778. ISBN 9780781763691. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d Droutsas, K; Sekundo, W (June 2010). "[Epidemiology of pterygium. A review]". Der Ophthalmologe: Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft (in German). 107 (6): 511–2, 514–6. doi:10.1007/s00347-009-2101-3. PMID 20393731. S2CID 12077189.
- ^ Saw, SM; Tan, D (September 1999). "Pterygium: prevalence, demography and risk factors". Ophthalmic Epidemiology. 6 (3): 219–28. doi:10.1076/opep.6.3.219.1504. PMID 10487976.