The Case of Pterygium

A 37-year-old male came through the screening clinic for routine dental care. During the head and neck exam, the student noticed a flap of tissue extending over the patient's cornea and asked me to come take a look.

37-year-old patient with pterygium

The man couldn't really tell how long this problem had been present. He did say that recently he had noticed a dark spot in his vision. I told him that this flap of tissue extending over his cornea is called a pterygium and requires him to see an ophthalmologist, especially since it's already interfering with vision.

Pterygium:

Since I'm not an ophthalmologist, I might not be the best person to comment on this topic, but I'll cover the basics.

Pterygium is a benign growth of the conjunctival epithelium that extends onto the cornea. It is commonly seen in people chronically exposed to sunlight, dust or other irritants. It can result in itching, tearing, foreign body sensations and vision problems. Variable forms of surgery are performed to manage this condition.