Pterygium
A pterygium is a benign growth on the surface of the eye that can cause irritation or obscure vision. It is surgically removed and the eye is treated with radiation to prevent the growth from recurring. Our FROG group has the largest published experience of pterygium radiation treatment in the United States. The treatment is administered by resting a beta-radiation applicator on the surface of the eye where the pterygium has been surgically removed for less than a minute each week for six weeks. By undergoing these treatments, the recurrence rates of these lesions drop from about 50% after surgery alone to less than 10% with the beta treatments added. It is important that you follow the prescribed treatment schedule, as we have noted that those patients whose pterygium recurred usually had not come at their prescribed times for their radiation therapy.