Surgical Treatment of Pterygium

Complications and Risks

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that diplopia of new onset due to damage to the medial rectus or scarring can occur as a complication of pterygium surgery 1, 2
• The American Academy of Ophthalmology also reports that exotropia consequent to damage to the medial rectus and esotropic restrictive non-comitant strabismus due to scarring are potential complications of pterygium surgery 1, 2
• The use of retrobulbar anesthesia increases the risk of postoperative diplopia compared to topical anesthesia, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology 1
• Florid scarring associated with recurrence can cause problems with ocular motility, as noted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology 1