Pterygium is a growth of fleshy tissue (has blood vessels) that may start as a pinguecula. It can remain small or grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. When this happens, it can affect your vision. Both pinguecula and pterygium are believed to be caused by a combination of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, wind and dust.

Pterygium surgery is a procedure performed to remove noncancerous conjunctiva gro w ths (pterygia) from the eye. The conjunctiva is the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and the.