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A pterygium is a fleshy overgrowth of conjunctiva that extends over the cornea. It is often pink, fleshy and triangular-shaped. In most cases, a pterygium grows from the inner corner of the eye. It may sometimes grow from the outer corner or on both sides of the eye at the same time. One or both eyes may be affected. The growth is benign, but if untreated, a pterygium may grow across the cornea, affecting vision.
A pterygium and pinguecula are both benign growths on the whites of the eye (conjunctiva).
A pinguecula is a yellowish, raised growth on the conjunctiva. It usually occurs on the side of the nose, but can also appear on the other side. A pterygium, however, is a fleshy overgrowth of the conjunctiva that extends onto the cornea. It can remain small, or may grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. When this happens, your vision can be affected.
A pterygium or pinguecula is usually painless, although it may cause irritation to the eye at any stage. If symptoms do occur, they may include:
Pterygia are more common in people who have had years of exposure to sun, wind and dust. Therefore they are more commonly found in people living in hot, dry climates or those who spend a lot of time outdoors. Pterygia are known to be associated with the following risk factors:
No treatment is needed if the pterygium or pinguecula causes no symptoms and does not bother you. If a pinguecula or pterygium becomes red and inflamed, steroid drops can relieve it temporarily.
However, if your eyes are constantly red, uncomfortable or irritated; or if the pterygium is large enough to cause vision problems, surgical intervention is usually required. It is preferable to remove a pterygium before it grows across the cornea as it may scar the cornea and cause permanent vision problems. A pterygium or pinguecula may also be removed for cosmetic reasons. Some patients may seek surgical removal as they are conscious of the appearance of these growths in the eye.
Surgery involves peeling off the pterygium and harvesting a thin piece of healthy, normal conjunctival tissue from under the eyelid. This conjunctival graft is glued in place to close the defect where the pterygium had been removed. This technique reduces the chance that your pterygium will grow back.
If you’ve had a pterygium or pinguecula removed before, the best way of preventing them from coming back is to:
The goal is a healthier, more comfortable ocular surface, with protection of vision and corneal shape where the pterygium has been affecting it.
If the pterygium was distorting the cornea, removing it can allow the cornea to stabilise and may improve vision quality. However, the timing of any glasses update matters—your prescription may continue to shift as healing progresses, so refraction is often best done once the cornea has settled. If your vision correction goals are broader, we can also discuss how pterygium management fits into a longer-term plan that may include refractive procedures, depending on your eye health and goals.
Cosmetic outcomes aim for a natural-looking result, but healing time is part of the result. Even when surgery goes perfectly, the eye can remain red for a while. The final appearance is typically assessed over weeks to months, not days.
Recurrence is possible. Modern graft techniques and careful surgery reduce the risk, and your role in UV protection and aftercare matters too. If you’re outdoors often, ongoing UV protection is one of the best long-term habits you can keep.
We assess pterygium not only by how it looks, but by how it affects the cornea and ocular surface. That matters for comfort, vision stability, and long-term outcomes.
Technique selection, careful surgery, and structured aftercare are all geared toward reducing recurrence risk. We also place real emphasis on prevention strategies like UV protection, because they directly influence long-term results.
If possible, bring a brief symptom history, a medication list, and any photos that show flare-ups at their worst (helpful if symptoms come and go).
Most people find the procedure itself comfortable because local anaesthetic is used. The eye can feel scratchy, watery, and light-sensitive in the early healing phase, but this typically improves as the surface settles.
The surface heals over the first couple of weeks, but redness can take longer to fully settle. Many people notice the eye looks progressively better over several weeks.
This depends on your work environment. Desk work is often easier to return to sooner than dusty outdoor or physical work. Your surgeon will guide you based on healing and comfort.
Conservative treatment can manage symptoms, but it does not remove the pterygium. Surgery is the treatment that physically removes the growth when it is progressing or causing significant symptoms or vision impact.
Consistent UV protection is one of the best long-term strategies. Wraparound sunglasses and hats are particularly helpful, especially if you spend time outdoors. Managing dryness and attending follow-ups also supports a healthier ocular surface after surgery.
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