A pterygium ("surfer's eye") is a wedge of fleshy tissue that grows from the white of the eye onto the cornea. It is caused by long-term UV exposure, and Queensland has one of the highest rates in the world.
Small, quiet pterygia can be watched and managed with lubricating drops. If a pterygium is persistently red, growing towards the centre of the cornea, distorting your vision, or you simply don't like the look of it, it can be removed. Dr Brendan Cronin, corneal specialist at the Queensland Eye Institute, performs stitch-free pterygium surgery using a conjunctival autograft and fibrin glue — the approach associated with the lowest published recurrence rates.
Where: Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane — day surgery
Anaesthetic: sedation with an anaesthetist; you will not remember the procedure
Technique: extended removal + conjunctival autograft + fibrin glue, no stitches
Recovery: patch overnight, 3–4 days off work, driving after about 48 hours
Recurrence: about 1 in 1,000 in the published series for this technique
Online booking at the Queensland Eye Institute. A GP or optometrist referral is needed for Medicare rebates.
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This short video explains what happens at your pterygium assessment appointment with Dr Cronin.
A pterygium is a benign growth of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white of the eye, that extends onto the cornea. It is strongly linked to ultraviolet light, wind, dust and a hot, dry climate — which is why it is so common in surfers, farmers, tradespeople and anyone who spends long hours outdoors in Queensland.
A visible pink or fleshy wedge, usually on the nose side of the eye
Persistent redness or inflammation
A gritty, burning or itchy sensation, worse in wind or air-conditioning
Watering and light sensitivity
As it grows: astigmatism, blurred vision and, if untreated, corneal scarring
A pterygium is often compared to an iceberg — the tissue under the surface extends further than the part you can see. That is why complete removal matters for a lasting result.
A small pterygium that is not inflamed or affecting vision does not need surgery. Wrap-around UV-blocking sunglasses, a hat, and lubricating drops in dry or windy conditions keep symptoms down and slow growth.
Lubricants, and occasionally a short course of anti-inflammatory drops, settle redness and irritation. Drops do not shrink or remove a pterygium.
Surgery is the only way to remove a pterygium. It is recommended when the growth is causing chronic irritation that drops don't control, inducing astigmatism or threatening the visual axis, growing quickly, or when the appearance bothers you. Dr Cronin will assess the pterygium at the slit lamp and discuss whether and when surgery makes sense for you.
The operation takes around 30 minutes as a day procedure, under sedation with an anaesthetist and local anaesthetic to the eye. You will be asleep for the surgery and will not remember it.
Extended removal of the pterygium and the abnormal tissue beneath it, not just the visible part.
Conjunctival autograft: a graft of your own healthy conjunctiva from under the upper lid is placed over the area. Using your own tissue gives a white, natural-looking eye and is the key step in preventing recurrence.
Fibrin glue, no stitches: the graft is secured with biological tissue glue, which is more comfortable in the first week than sutures and avoids a second visit to remove them.
The older "bare sclera" method — removing the pterygium without a graft — has recurrence rates reported above 30% and is no longer recommended. Amniotic membrane grafts are used in some centres but tend to give a less cosmetically clean result than your own conjunctiva.
You wear an eye patch overnight and remove it the next morning. The eye is sore for 24–48 hours and irritated for about a week — most people say uncomfortable rather than painful. Redness fades over 3–6 weeks as the graft settles.
Steroid and antibiotic drops for 4–6 weeks
Drive after about 48 hours; 3–4 days off work
No contact lenses until the eye has healed
A responsible adult with you for the first night after sedation
Sunglasses outdoors — UV protection is the main way to prevent a new pterygium
Dr Cronin reviews you after surgery to check the graft and monitor healing. Recurrence with this technique is uncommon; see Will my pterygium grow back? for the published figures and what influences the risk.
Dr Cronin is a fellowship-trained corneal and anterior segment surgeon at the Queensland Eye Institute. Pterygium and ocular surface surgery is a core part of his practice, and he has published research on pterygium tissue. He uses the extended autograft and fibrin-glue technique for every pterygium he removes because it offers a good combination of comfort, appearance and low recurrence.
Pterygium surgery attracts a Medicare rebate and is a day procedure covered by private health insurance. Your written quote itemises the surgeon's, anaesthetist's and hospital fees. Our guide to pterygium operation costs explains each component.
Consultations at the Queensland Eye Institute, Woolloongabba (South Brisbane) and Clayfield. Surgery is performed at the South Brisbane Day Hospital.
Recurrence is uncommon with modern technique. Dr Cronin uses an extended conjunctival autograft (your own healthy conjunctiva) secured with fibrin tissue glue. In Hirst's published series of 1,000 consecutive cases using this approach, recurrence was about 1 in 1,000. Older bare-sclera removal without a graft has recurrence rates reported above 30%.
No. Dr Cronin secures the graft with fibrin tissue glue rather than sutures. Patients generally find this more comfortable in the first week, with less of the gritty, scratchy sensation associated with stitches, and there are no sutures to remove.
A pterygium itself is benign. It is caused by long-term UV exposure, which is also a risk factor for other ocular surface conditions, so any unusual growth on the eye should be assessed.
Surgery is reasonable when a pterygium is persistently red or irritated despite drops, is growing towards the centre of the cornea, is inducing astigmatism or affecting vision, or when you are unhappy with its appearance. Small, quiet pterygia can simply be monitored.
PERFECT for Pterygium is a trademarked name for an extended removal with a large conjunctival autograft. The principles that matter — complete removal of the abnormal tissue, a generous graft of your own conjunctiva, and glue rather than stitches — are the same ones Dr Cronin uses. Whatever it is called, ask your surgeon whether they graft and whether they glue.
You wear a patch overnight. The eye is usually sore for 24–48 hours and irritated for about a week; most people describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful. The eye can take 3–6 weeks to look white again and you will use drops for 4–6 weeks. UV-protective sunglasses help prevent recurrence.
Most people can drive about 48 hours after surgery and take 3–4 days off work: the day of the procedure and two or three days to recover. Surgery on a Thursday usually means back at work on Monday.
Pterygium surgery attracts a Medicare rebate and is covered by private health insurance as a day procedure. Your quote from our rooms itemises the surgeon, anaesthetist and day-hospital fees so there are no surprises. See our guide to pterygium operation costs for how the components work.
Written and reviewed by Dr Brendan Cronin FRANZCO, FWCRS — Corneal, Cataract and Refractive Surgeon.
Last reviewed: 21 September 2026
