What are the side effects of pterygium surgery?
Emma Martin
Published Mar 15, 2026
What are the side effects of pterygium surgery?
The complications post pterygium excision and auto-grafting include subconjunctival hemorrhage, graft edema, graft loss, retraction, graft sliding, granuloma, and recurrence. Less commonly corneal melt, perforation.
How long does it take for your eye to heal after pterygium surgery?
Recovery time can take anywhere between a couple of weeks to a couple of months for your eye to completely heal, without signs of redness or discomfort. Though, this may also be dependent on the type of technique used during surgery.
Is it normal to have blurry vision after pterygium surgery?
The vision may be blurry for several weeks after surgery due to a change in the shape of the cornea after surgery and a change in the prescription of the eye. This may settle on its own, but may require a change in your glasses.
How long does your eye stay red after pterygium surgery?
Over the next two to four weeks, your eye will gradually return to a normal appearance with little or no traces of redness or irritation. Learn more about the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pterygium.
What should not be done after pterygium surgery?
PTERYGIUM SURGERY POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS CON’T DO NOT WEAR eye makeup or moisturizer around the eye area for 1 week after surgery. DO NOT swim; go into a hot tub, Jacuzzi, or sauna for 2 weeks following your surgery. You can take showers as normal, but avoid getting shampoo, soap, or water in your eye.
Why does pterygium cause diplopia?
Pterygium may be associated with monocular diplopia secondary to irregular astigmatism and horizontal flattening of the cornea in attempted contralateral gaze rotation. Extraocular muscle disinsertion during pterygium excision surgery is more likely to occur when removing large, deep, and/or recurrent pterygium.
Does pterygium surgery improve vision?
My vision improved immediately. They say the pterygium pressure can stretch the eyeball, causing astigmatism. I suppose it’s possible that the pressure was already relieved just a day after surgery, but I was pretty shocked to have improved my vision so quickly. Within two weeks, my vision went from 20/30 to 20/20.
Will vision improve after pterygium surgery?
Your vision will be blurry, and will improve each day. It’s normal for your eye to be red, sore, scratchy, and light sensitive these symptoms will improve. You may notice a clear watery discharge from eye and your eyelid may remain swollen for several days after surgery.
Can pterygium be treated without surgery?
Treating a pterygium can be done without surgical removal. Smaller growths are usually treated with artificial tears to lubricate the eyes or mild steroid eye drops that counteract redness and swelling.
How can pterygium be prevented?
To reduce the risk of developing pterygia:
- Use sunglasses that block out UV light (close-fitting, wrap around styles are best)
- Wear sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim when outdoors.
- Avoid exposure to environmental irritants, eg: smoke, dust, wind, and chemical pollutants.
What is the best eye drop for pterygium?
You can treat the irritation and redness caused by a pterygium or pinguecula with simple eye drops, such as Systane Plus or Blink lubricants. If you suffer from inflammation, a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops (e.g. Acular, Voltaren Ophtha) may help.
Can I watch TV after pterygium surgery?
You can take showers as normal, but avoid getting shampoo, soap, or water in your eye. You can resume cardiovascular activity two weeks after surgery. You can watch T.V. and read immediately after surgery.
How long does it take to recover from pterygium surgery?
Most patients do not have discomfort from pterygium surgery within two to three days. However, redness on the eyes can last for several weeks. As with any medical procedure, the healing process depends on the complexity of the surgery and any complications that arise during recovery.
What are the risks of pterygium surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Following the pterygium surgery, it’s normal to experience some discomfort and redness. It’s also common to notice some blurriness during recovery.
What are the symptoms of a pterygium?
Some cases of a pterygium produce little to no symptoms. Severe overgrowth of conjunctiva tissue can cover the cornea and interfere with your vision. The pterygium surgery is a minimally invasive surgery. It generally takes no more than 30 to 45 minutes.
Do you have to be sedated for pterygium surgery?
Because you’ll be lightly sedated, doctors will require you to arrange transportation after the surgery, as you’ll be unable to drive yourself. The pterygium surgical procedure is fairly quick and low risk: Your doctor will sedate you and numb your eyes to prevent discomfort during surgery.