Have you looked in the mirror and noticed that a fleshiness has appeared in your eye that you had never had before? Do not panic, it is a frequent problem among the population and is called pterygium, which causes problems in the eye that appears, but treated in time has an easy solution. Many people let it go unnoticed, since it does not cause any type of pain, it does not pose any problem, but you should know that over time, and especially if said fleshiness increases in size, severe damage to your vision could occur.
What are pterygium and pinguecula
A pterygium is the abnormal growth of the conjunctiva of the eye , the mucous membrane that lines the inner part of the eyelid as well as the part of the eyeball. This growth is benign, that is, it does not produce any cancer and is usually wedge-shaped. If you have noticed discomfort in the eye, and when examining it in the mirror you have been able to observe a pterygium in it, do not be scared.
If the size is small and has a yellowish color, it is called a pinguecula , which does not imply any problem or treatment and is quite frequent. If this fleshiness in the eyes increases in size as the days go by, do not hesitate to go to an ophthalmologist , so that he can examine you and assess the best treatment. When this problem causes vision problems, surgery is usually performed to remove it, but there are other alternatives which we explain later.
Why does the pterygium come out – causes
The reality is that the causes of the appearance of pterygium are unknown, although specialists consider that its appearance is related to:
- Prolonged exposure to radiation from sunlight.
- The use of inappropriate sunglasses when exposed to sunlight, such as while sunbathing on the beach.
- Being in environments with excessive dust, pollution or chemical products increases the possibility of its appearance.
- Exposing yourself too much to the wind, which causes the eye to dry out and the chances of the pterygium to appear increase.
- Conjunctival inflammation or repetitive or poorly healed conjunctivitis.
It has been shown that in countries with hot and dry climates the appearance of this problem is very frequent.
How to remove pterygium without surgery – treatments
If the pterygium of the eye disappears a few days after having detected it, no treatment is usually administered. The problem comes when this pterygium grows, making you lose vision and associated symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, constant tearing and the sensation of a foreign body in that part also appear. It will be then when you must act to try to eliminate this annoyance. The fastest and most effective solution is surgery , however you can try to make the pterygium disappear using other alternatives such as drops for pterygium in the eyes :
- Medications to reduce inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe drops to remove the pterygium or eye ointments that contain corticosteroids.
- You can try to reduce symptoms with lubricating drops, vasoconstrictors or steroids.
In addition, there are a number of home remedies that can help you relieve the symptoms until that uncomfortable pterygium disappears. There is no remedy capable of directly eliminating the problem, but they serve both to control the growth of the pterygium and to prevent its appearance. These home remedies to improve the pterygium are the following:
- Blueberries: thanks to the large amount of antioxidants they contain, they help keep your eyes clean and improve your vision.
- Aloe vera: its direct application on the eye helps to calm the itching and burning of the eye.
- Parsley: Drinking parsley tea can help reduce inflammation. You can also do an eye wash twice a day with this remedy to keep pterygium at bay.
- Chamomile: Place a few bags of chamomile over your eyes twice a day to prevent the pterygium from growing. Here we tell you more about How to wash your eyes with chamomile .
How to prevent pterygium or pterygium in the eyes
If you want to prevent the appearance of pterygium in the eyes, we recommend that you follow these simple tips:
- Wear sunglasses with suitable lenses to avoid direct contact of your eyes with ultraviolet light, dust and wind.
- You can wear a hat to protect yourself from ultraviolet light.
- You can purchase artificial tears to keep your eyes moist and hydrated.
- Make sure to properly heal the conjunctival inflammations that appear.
You can follow all the tips we have mentioned above to try to prevent and reduce pterygium . However, if the pterygium continues to grow and the symptoms do not go away, visit an ophthalmologist without hesitation before the problem worsens.
