PTERYGIUM:

It is a condition in which the conjunctiva folds in the shape of wings over the cornea of the eye.

ETIOLOGY:

It is still unclear what the main cause of pterygium is, but most cases are reported from hot and dusty areas so it can be assumed that dust and hot weather play an important role in the development of this disease.

HIGH-RISK GROUP-

1. Old-age people.

2. Males are at higher risk compared to women due to more outdoor work which points towards hot weather and dusty environment as one of the causes.

PATHOLOGY-

It is a degenerative and hyperplastic condition of the conjunctiva. The subconjunctival tissue first degenerates and proliferates as granular tissue and then slowly starts moving over the cornea.

The most common growth direction is from the nasal side but it can also grow from the temporal side.

PARTS OF PTERYGIUM:

A fully grown pterygium can be divided into 3 parts which are head, neck, and body.

1. HEAD – The part which lies over the cornea is the pterygium.

2. NECK– The constricted part of the pterygium after the head is known as the neck.

3. BODY– part of the pterygium which lies over the sclera.

CLASSIFICATION-

Pterygium can be classified based on the extent to which it grows, and other types are based on progression.

BASED ON THE EXTENT OF GROWTH:

1. TYPE 1 – It grows less than 2 mm over the cornea.

2. TYPE 2 – It grows up to 4mm over the cornea.

3. TYPE 3 – It grows more than 4 mm and can affect the vision of the patient too.

BASED ON PROGRESSION-

1. PROGRESSIVE PTERIGIUM- It is thick, fleshy, and vascular.

2. REGRESSIVE PTERIGIUM – It is thin, and atrophied.

SYMPTOMS-

1. During the start of the disease it does not produce any symptoms except cosmetic problems faced by the patient.

2. It can cause irritation in the eyes due to growth over the cornea.

3. It can affect the vision during the later stage of the disease which can be due to growth over the cornea and due to limitation of the movement of the eyeball.

TREATMENT –

Medical treatments are not of much help and are used to provide symptomatic relief to patients. However, some of the medical management used by the doctor depending on the patient’s conditions are discussed below:

1 Topical steroids are sometimes used to stop inflammation and slow the growth of pterygium.

2 Sometimes pterygium can cause dry eye, so to prevent this doctors may prescribe artificial tear drop substitutes.

Surgical treatment :

Surgical excision is the mainstay of the treatment and is indicated for the patients to provide cosmetic relief and also if the patient develops visual impairment.

CLAU (conjunctival limbal autograft) is the most effective surgical management of pterygium.

PSEUDOPTERIGIUM:

It is a condition in which the bulbar conjunctiva folds over the cornea. It is more of an acute inflammatory condition that can occur due to trauma to the cornea, chemical burns, and other similar conditions.

It can occur in any age group.

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Use ultraviolet protective sunglasses when going out in hot weather.

2. Avoid working in a dusty environment.

3. Take extra precautionary measures when working with flammable chemicals as any injury to the eye can cause pseduopterigium.

4. Always consult your doctor when you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms to prevent the growth of the disease and timely treatment.

5) Old age people especially those suffering from diabetes and hypertension should get regular eye check-ups done by the doctor to prevent these diseases from affecting their vision

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.