Managing clinical conditions: Pterygium

Philadelphia-Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, and Jill Autry, OD, RPh, shared clinical management pearls with attendees at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

“Waiting until it creeps onto the visual axis is waiting too late,” says Dr. Autry.

“Look at where the head is, and add 2 mm. That's where the damage is”, says Dr. Karpecki.

Treatment plan can include:

• Complete excision

• Address inflammation

• Minimally induce surgical trauma

If you’re considering surgery for pterygium, know that there is a high incidence of recurrence. Dr. Autry recommends excision with autograft for patients with risk of high recurrence.

Dr. Karpecki suggests ODs watch for dellen formation on the cornea with pterygium patients. “Lubricate them. Eventually they could break down the cornea, and that becomes a more serious problem.”ODT