Pterygium, or Surfer’s eye, is a condition where pink tissue grows on the whites of the eyes, usually from the side nearest the nose. It then spreads outward. It is a non-cancerous or benign tumour. It is normally slow growing and doesn’t normally affect the life of its host. If it has been present for a long time or it is severe, it can cover the pupil of the eye and cause a visual obstruction. It can change the shape of the cornea, resulting in astigmatism (a trigger of blurred vision), it can cause burning and sore eyes or make you feel as if you have grit in your eye.

Sometimes it can be left but if it causes problems then it can only be treated by reducing the symptoms with steroid drops or having surgery to remove the growth.

Now there may be another potential way to treat the problem. A case report detailed the case of an otherwise healthy 35 year old woman with surfer’s eye who had an almost total disappearance of the growth after the administration of eye drops containing a drug called dipyridamole – a medication normally used in the treatment of angina, a heart condition.

It has been used by doctors for over 55 years for other disorders but now, completely by chance, it has revealed itself to be a potentially curative and non-invasive treatment for pterygium.

Traditional steroid drops can lessen the inflammation and discomfort but they don’t get rid of the growth so currently the only complete treatment for it is surgery. The dipyridamole represents the possibility of a non-surgical alternative.
Medical trials are currently underway to see if it could be introduced to help other patients.

The London Ophthalmology Centre has highly trained doctors who specialise in pterygium surgery.

At our prestigious centre we can carry out your operation using anaesthetic eye drops so you won’t need a general anaesthetic or any painful needles – good news for the needle phobic.

As pterygium surgery results can be temporary and a reoccurrence can sometimes occur, special grafts are used to minimise this chance. Grafts are either taken from your own tissue (an auto-graft) or from amniotic membrane or then fixed in place with surgical glue. This fairly simple procedure only takes around half an hour and restores your eye to its normal healthy colour, while relieving any discomfort.

We have state-of-the-art day case theatres on site and you can expect to go home the same day. You will also have the reassurance of knowing that if you choose The London Ophthalmology Centre for your care, you will be seen by the same consultant surgeon both in the clinic and in the operating room.

To discuss your Pterygium or receive a diagnosis, contact London OC today.