Pterygium Surgery - Post procedure (after surgery)

An explanation by Dr. Aleksic’s treatment centre optometrist, Rianda.
Dr. Zoran Aleksic FCS (SA) Ophth, is an eye surgeon and Ophthalmologist specialising in cataract and laser refractive surgery (Lasik / PRK laser refractive surgery for short sightedness, far sightedness and astigmatism). Dr. Aleksic’s treatment centre is located in Sea Point in Cape Town.
Dr. Zoran Aleksic and his team have long been recognised both in South Africa and the rest of the continent for providing high quality eye care with a full spectrum of treatments, from prescribing glasses and contact lenses to complex and delicate eye surgery using the latest technological equipment, all in a relaxed and professional environment.
Visit our website: www.eyesurgery.co.za
Transcript:
What to expect afterward?
Now, when you take that off you'll feel scratchy, especially when the
anaesthetic has worn off. We give you drops to use (two types): anti-inflammatory drops to
calm everything down, as well as lubricant drop so that you can put it in and just smoothen that the whole area so that you don't feel it as much when you blink. What you might see when you look in the mirror is straight afterwards is a real red spot. You might think that it is looking worse now than before the surgery. But, that is just doctor’s anaesthetic and the red spot is just a bruise, so that's going to clear. Just as you'll see as a bruise on your arm or leg, it first goes blue then it becomes yellow and then it slowly goes away, so do not get a fright when you see that. That is normal. Some people bruise easier than others so that's why some people have a great spot in the eye and others will not.
Can I develop a Pterygium again?
Now, there is a chance that the Pterygium can regrow. If that happens we need to see how severe it is. Can we calm it down with just drops or do we need to do a surgical procedure again? It is unlikely for it to regrow but in some patients it is just so aggressive that it can regrow. Just to mention again on indications or reasons for removing the pterygium:
1. A cosmetic reason
2. When doctor is suspicious about the tissue and the way that tissue behaves around the area
3. When it is already onto the coloured part of your eye, because then it can start to pull onto your cornea and that can cause your vision to distort. So we want you not to leave it until it's like right into that the coloured area of your eye.
Afterwards we'll ask you to use drops for two to three weeks we'll ask you to come for a follow-up in a week's time (not the following day after surgery), just for us to make sure that the bruise is starting to clear and that you are more comfortable.