Managing clinical conditions: Pterygium

Article

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

 

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

 

Newsletter

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to Optometry Times and get clinical pearls and practice tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Recent Videos
Dr Luke Lindsell discusses retinal therapy and geographic atrophy at Controversies in Modern Eye Care 2025
Neda Shamie, MD, speaks on cataract and refractive surgery at CIME 2025.
Dr Selina McGee shares thoughts on pharmacological presbyopia correction at Controversies in Modern Eye Care 2025
Paul Hammond, OD, FAAO, presents a poster at ARVO 2025 on the creation of a conversion factor between 2 OCT devices to monitor glaucoma progression
What to know about legislative moves that have been made through May this year.
CIME 25: Dilsher Dhoot, MD, FASRS, is excited about emerging retinal therapies.
Robert Maloney, MD, MA, at the 2025 Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting
Dr Jacob Lang at the 2025 Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting
Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, at Controversies in Modern Eyecare 2025
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.