Pterygium is a benign growth of the conjunctiva, usually located on the nasal side. Initially limited to the conjunctiva, it can spread to the cornea if it is not treated. The main cause of pterygium is exposure to the sun.
In the early stages of its formation, the pterygium is not especially troublesome. Occasionally, the patient may notice a dryness of the eyes, or the feeling that a foreign body is in the eye. The corner of the eye may be red. A pterygium does not really become symptomatic until it reaches the centre of the cornea, disrupting the visual axis. It can also sometimes be responsible for significant astigmatism.
Treatment is necessary only when symptoms are present, and is based on surgical removal of the growth under local anaesthesia.