Pterygium Surgery Recovery

Managing post-surgery discomfort with pain relievers

It will be normal to experience mild pain, irritation, or a gritty sensation in the eye for a few days after pterygium surgery. Patients can also experience redness and swelling around the eyes.

The eye can be particularly sensitive and will need some time to heal the wound that is caused by the procedure.

Typically, over-the-counter pain relievers can be sufficient in managing the discomfort during pterygium surgery recovery, but medication may sometimes be prescribed in some cases.

Discomfort will normally subside within a week or two after the procedure, but it can vary from person to person.

Protecting the eye with a shield or bandage

During recovery from pterygium surgery, the eye will need to be protected for some time with a shield or bandage.

Protecting the eye will help to prevent irritation, bacteria from entering the eye and infection. It will also prevent you from accidentally touching or rubbing the eye.

Depending on how well the eye is healing, Dr Pappalardo may advise stopping wearing the shield or bandage by your first follow-up appointment. However, your pterygium doctor may recommend continuing to wear eye protection at night only for a little longer to avoid causing any injuries while sleeping.

Preventing infection and reducing inflammation with medicated eye drops

Preventing complications like infection or significant inflammation will be one of the most important parts of pterygium surgery recovery.

Often, medicated eye drops are prescribed, which you need to apply according to the provided instructions. The eye drops are typically formulated to reduce inflammation and prevent infection, which can also minimise the chance of scarring.

It will be important to complete the course of the prescribed eye drops, as stopping them too early or using them incorrectly can prolong recovery or lead to complications.

Reducing dryness with lubricating eye drops

In combination with the medicated eye drops, applying lubricating eye drops can help to reduce dryness, which is common during pterygium surgery recovery.

The tear film of the eye, which is an essential part of keeping the eye lubricated, can be disturbed during the pterygium removal process. As the eye heals, this typically returns back to normal, and dryness subsides, but there is a risk of managing long-term dryness after the procedure.

You should follow your surgeon’s instructions on how often to use lubricating eye drops. You may need to apply them more often if you are frequently exposed to particularly dry or windy environments.

Reducing physical activity levels

Rest is often a required part of any surgery recovery, and pterygium surgery is no exception. While the procedure only focuses on the eye, the body will still need sufficient rest to allow the area to fully heal.

After pterygium surgery, it is typically recommended to avoid strenuous activities during the first week of recovery, but especially within the first few days. Your surgeon can give you more specific instructions on avoiding strenuous exercise based on the details of your surgery.

Avoid activities that can expose the eyes to dust, dirt, or bacteria

After the eye shield or bandage is removed, you should continue to protect the eyes by avoiding activities or environments where dust, dirt, or other particles might get into the eye.

Dust, dirt, bacteria and other particles can irritate the eyes or even increase the risk of infection.

One of these activities is swimming, as pool or ocean water may expose the eyes to bacteria. Particularly windy and dry environments should also be avoided where possible.

Protecting the eyes from UV ray exposure

Excessive UV ray exposure has been identified as one of the main likely causes of pterygium, so it will be highly important to shield your eyes from UV rays after pterygium removal surgery.

Bright light can also be uncomfortable for the eyes after surgery, as they are often more sensitive during the healing process.

When purchasing sunglasses, you should check that they are labelled as meeting the Australian standards for UV ray protection. Appropriate sunglasses will also have a lens category of 2, 3 or 4. Sunglasses should wrap closely around the eyes to minimise UV exposure.

Ideally, you should also wear a wide-brimmed hat to prevent UV rays from reaching the eyes at angles that your sunglasses may not cover.

Limit or avoid driving

As vision may be blurry during pterygium surgery recovery, you may need to avoid driving until your vision is completely clear.

Your surgeon will advise you if you should avoid driving during your recovery.

Reduce screen time

Screen time may contribute to eye strain and fatigue, so you may also be advised to limit screen time.

If screen time is necessary for your work, it’s a good idea to take frequent breaks. Applying lubricating eye drops during your screen breaks can also help reduce discomfort and prevent dryness.

Attending follow-up appointments

Follow-up appointments will allow your surgeon to monitor the healing progress of your eye, identify any complications and make any adjustments to your aftercare instructions.

Your first follow-up may be scheduled a few days after your surgery, during which your surgeon may advise you to remove the eye protection or wear it less frequently. Depending on your needs, more follow-ups may then be scheduled over the following weeks or months.

Preventing the reoccurrence of a pterygium

In the longer-term, there are some steps you can take to help prevent the reoccurrence of a pterygium.

While the P.E.R.F.E.C.T method already significantly lowers reoccurrence rates, it is a good idea to take care of your general eye health and consider some factors.

Continuing to protect your eyes from UV rays exposure and dusty or windy environments can help to prevent reoccurrence. Preventing dryness by regularly applying lubricating drops can also be helpful.

After pterygium surgery, you will typically be asked to have regular check-ups to monitor your eye health in the longer term.

Attending these appointments will help allow your ophthalmologist to spot any signs of reoccurrence early and recommend the most appropriate treatment.