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Pterygium Surgery and Treatment in NYC and Long Island

A pterygium is a pink, triangle-shaped growth of tissue that starts at the thin tissue of the eye, covers the white part of the eye, and extends to the cornea. This growth can either gradually expand throughout your life, or may eventually stop progressing altogether. Blood vessels within the pterygium can form scar tissue. As the pterygium becomes worse, this scar tissue can cause astigmatism, or may even distort the surface of the eye. Fortunately, most mild cases of pterygium don’t show symptoms or require treatment.

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What are the Signs of Pterygium?

  • A gritty feeling in the eye
  • The feeling of a foreign body in the eye
  • A raised red, pink, or white lesion in the eye
  • Blurry vision
  • Dry eyes
  • Burning in the eye 
  • Itchiness of the eye

Causes of Pterygium

Pterygium can be caused by excessive exposure to sun and wind, dry eye, or prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. 

Pterygium Treatment Options

If you experience any of the symptoms of a pterygium, or if you have frequent exposure to sun and wind, be sure to contact Kelly Vision immediately. If left unattended, this growth can lead to severe scarring on your cornea, which can ultimately cause vision loss. In mild cases, a lubricant or eyedrops will be prescribed to reduce swelling, redness, and other symptoms. If the pterygium is large and causing painful symptoms, surgical removal may be necessary to keep it from affecting your sight. Dr. Kelly and his staff perform highly effective pterygium treatments, which can have excellent functional and cosmetic results.

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“Dr. Kelly and his staff are super, super nice! They made me feel like I can trust them with my eyes. I actually went to one other place for consultation too. They made me watch a video by myself, then a doctor came in with a piece of paper and repeated what the video said. Dr. Kelly also showed me a video, but he was there, and he explained to me what is going on during the procedure. It feels like everyone at Kelly Vision really cares about their patients.” 

Lea H.

Insurance Options

Many patients want to know if their procedure is covered by health insurance. This isn’t always clear until we have spoken with you, but many services that we offer are fully or partially covered. If there’s a procedure that you’re interested in and you’d like to know whether or not it’s covered, we encourage you to inquire about specifics when you’re in the office with us. We can determine if your procedure will be assisted by the financial help of health coverage.

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Brite White and Pterygium 

Pterygium can cause the surface of the eye to appear reddish-brown. Brite White is a surgical procedure we offer at Kelly Vision to correct this issue, restoring clear, white eyes and minimizing the uncomfortable symptoms of pterygium.

It works by removing the conjunctiva membrane — the thin surface layer of the eye where redness and pigmentation problems develop. Brite White is a “no-stitch” procedure, taking only about 30 minutes. Full results are typically seen at 4-18 weeks.

Learn More About Brite White

Brite White and Pterygium treatment model simulation

How can you improve eye discoloration? 

Brite White at Kelly Vision Center

Before & After Brite White

Before & After Brite White

Is it Possible to Prevent Pterygium?

You can help prevent pterygium from developing by: 

  • Wearing sunglasses and hats outdoors to shield your eyes from sunlight, wind, and dust
  • Being especially careful to protect your eyes from direct sunlight if you spend a lot of time in water or snow 
  • Avoiding exposure to environmental irritants such as smoke, dust, wind, and chemical pollutants
  • Using the correct eye safety equipment in work environments
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Pterygium Treatment at Kelly Vision

Dr. James Kelly is a board-certified ophthalmologist, with refractive surgery as his subspecialty. This level of certification allows him to provide a full range of surgical and non-surgical options, which very few doctors in the U.S. can offer. At Kelly Vision, we offer a boutique experience where you are more than just a number. He will be involved with every step of your vision correction journey, from consultation to your very last follow-up. You’re not just a number here — you are more than that to us. Dr. Kelly and his team are dedicated to making your vision correction one of the greatest experiences of your life. If you’re in the NYC or Long Island areas and you’re interested to find out if you are a candidate for pterygium treatment or removal surgery, book your free consultation with us today.

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