Ptergyium Surgery - Before and After. What is it? How we remove it. Recovery and Results.

Summary

This video showcases the process of pterygium removal surgery, detailing the step-by-step technique used by the surgeon. The procedure involves local anesthesia, careful removal of the pterygium from the cornea, and the application of an autograft to cover the affected area. Post-surgery, the eye undergoes significant healing, with noticeable improvement over the course of one day, one week, and three months. The video highlights the low recurrence rate and high patient satisfaction associated with this technique, emphasizing how the eye returns to a normal and even improved appearance, with minimal discomfort for the patient.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pterygium is a growth on the eye, and this video demonstrates its surgical removal.
• 😀 The surgical technique involves using local anesthesia, lidocaine eye drops, and subconjunctival lidocaine with epinephrine.
• 😀 The patient is awake during the procedure, with sedation typically provided through a valium tablet for comfort.
• 😀 The first surgical step is removing the pterygium by lifting and incising the conjunctiva, being cautious of the medial rectus muscle.
• 😀 The head of the pterygium is peeled off the cornea, and any remnants are removed using forceps.
• 😀 Mitomycin C (0.02%) is applied to the bare sclera for two minutes to reduce recurrence risk, followed by a rinse with balanced salt solution.
• 😀 An autograft, taken from the patient's own conjunctiva, is used to cover the area of bare sclera where the pterygium was removed.
• 😀 Patients may experience a sensation similar to having a grain of sand in their eye for the first two days post-surgery.
• 😀 One day after surgery, the eye appears red due to subconjunctival hemorrhages, but the suture and graft are in good position.
• 😀 One week after surgery, the autograft is fixed in place, and the suture is removed, with most patients feeling more comfortable by this point.
• 😀 Three months after surgery, the eye looks completely normal and often even better than the patient's other eye, with a low recurrence rate of under 5%.
• 😀 Overall, the surgery results in high patient satisfaction and a gratifying transformation from day one to three months post-surgery.

Q & A

What is pterygium, and why is surgery required?

Pterygium is a growth of tissue on the conjunctiva, which can extend onto the cornea. Surgery is required when it affects vision or causes discomfort.

What techniques can be used for pterygium removal?

There are various techniques for pterygium removal, with each surgeon having their preferred method. The specific technique used in the video involves local anesthesia, subconjunctival lidocaine, and autograft transplantation.

How is local anesthesia administered in pterygium surgery?

Local anesthesia is applied using lidocaine eye drops, followed by subconjunctival lidocaine with epinephrine directly into the pterygium and the area where the autograft will be created.

What is the role of mitomycin C in pterygium surgery?

Mitomycin C is applied to the bare sclera to prevent the recurrence of pterygium after surgery. It is left on the surface for two minutes before being rinsed off.

How is the autograft used in pterygium surgery?

The autograft is a piece of conjunctiva taken from an area above the cornea. It is used to cover the bare sclera after the pterygium is removed and is sutured into place.

What is the typical recovery experience for a patient after pterygium surgery?

After surgery, patients experience some discomfort, feeling like there is a grain of sand in their eye for the first two days. However, most patients report comfort within two to three days.

How does the eye look immediately after surgery?

One day after surgery, the eye may appear red with subconjunctival hemorrhages in the surgical area, but the autograft and sutures will be in place.

What changes occur in the eye within a week after pterygium surgery?

One week after surgery, the autograft has fixed itself to the sclera, and the sutures can be removed. The patient is generally more comfortable by this point.

What does the eye look like three months after surgery?

Three months after surgery, the eye appears completely normal, and in some cases, even better than the other eye.

What is the recurrence rate for pterygium removal using this technique?

The recurrence rate for pterygium removal using this technique is very low, probably less than 5%, with a high rate of patient satisfaction.