Pterygium (Aankh Mein Maas): Sun Growth on the Eye’s White
Straight answer: that fleshy, pinkish triangle creeping from the corner of the eye onto the dark part is usually a pterygium (aankh mein maas), a growth driven mostly by years of sun, dust and wind. It isn’t cancer, no totka dissolves it, and good UV sunglasses and a hat are the best way to slow it down.
In brief
- What it is: a wedge of thickened tissue on the white of the eye that can grow onto the cornea
- Main cause: long-term UV light, plus dust, wind and heat. Common in farmers, drivers, labourers and anyone outdoors in hot, dusty places
- Home care: UV-blocking sunglasses, a wide hat or cap, lubricating drops for irritation
- Surgery: only when it threatens vision, bends the cornea, or keeps getting badly inflamed. It can grow back
- No totka: no drop, surma, honey or leaf juice removes it
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A tractor driver in south Punjab. A traffic warden in Karachi. A grandmother who has spent sixty summers in the courtyard. Ask around and you’ll find someone with a “maas” in the eye: a raised, reddish flap on the inner side, sometimes both eyes. People fear it’s spreading to blind them. Mostly it isn’t. But it does deserve respect, because in some people it slowly marches onto the clear window you see through.
What aankh mein maas actually is
The white of your eye is covered by a thin, clear skin called the conjunctiva. In a pterygium (say “ter-IJ-ee-um”), that skin thickens and grows blood vessels, forming a triangle whose tip points towards the pupil. It almost always starts on the nose side, because sunlight bouncing off the side of the nose is focused onto that spot.
It’s a close cousin of a pinguecula, a small yellowish bump on the white that stays there and doesn’t grow onto the cornea. Many people have a pinguecula first. Both come from the same sun and dust exposure.
| Feature | Pinguecula | Pterygium |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Small yellow bump | Fleshy triangle |
| Onto the cornea? | No | Yes, can creep across |
| Affects vision? | No | Can, if large or central |
Why it’s so common in hot, dusty regions
Pterygium is often called “surfer’s eye” in the West, but you don’t need a surfboard. You need years of strong sun. That’s all. The regions nearer the equator, with bright light reflecting off sand, water and concrete, see far more of it. Dry wind and dust keep the eye surface irritated, and that constant irritation seems to feed the growth.
- Outdoor jobs: farming, construction, driving, street vending, fishing
- Motorbike riders without a visor
- People who live through repeated dust storms; see our guide to andhi and grit in the eyes
- Smoggy, polluted cities, where eyes stay red and dry; our smog season eye guide covers that side
Symptoms: when it’s just cosmetic and when it isn’t
Small ones often do nothing but look odd. As they grow, you may notice:
- A gritty, foreign-body feeling, especially in wind
- Redness that flares after a day in the sun
- Dryness and burning
- Blurry vision, if it pulls the cornea out of shape (astigmatism) or reaches the pupil area
The key question is how close the tip is to the centre of the cornea. Only an eye examination answers that, and a photo each visit lets the doctor see if it’s growing.
How to slow a pterygium down
- Wear sunglasses labelled “UV400” or “100% UV protection” whenever you’re outside in daylight, including on cloudy days. Wraparound styles block light from the sides too.
- Add a hat or cap with a brim of about 7 cm or more. Together with glasses, it cuts the sunlight reaching your eyes a lot.
- On a motorbike, use a clear or tinted visor or goggles against wind and dust.
- For grittiness, use preservative-free lubricating drops (artificial tears) as the pack directs.
- After dusty work, rinse closed eyes with clean water; never rub.
- Have the eye checked every 6 to 12 months, or sooner if your sight changes.
Cheap dark glasses without UV filtering can be worse than none, because dark lenses widen the pupil and let more UV in. Buy from an optician, or check the label. Price proves nothing.
Myth: a desi drop or surma can dissolve the maas
No. Honey, onion juice, rose water, alum water, surma and “special” herbal drops don’t shrink a pterygium, and several of them sting, scratch or infect the eye. Some sellers promise to “cut the maas” with a thread or blade at home. Please don’t. Ever. The eye surface scars and infects easily, and a botched attempt makes later surgery harder.
Grandparents often told field workers to wear a pagri pulled low or a chadar over the head at noon. That was practical sun shading, and it’s still good advice. The idea that eating cold foods “cools the eyes” and stops the maas is tradition only.
When surgery makes sense, and why it can come back
An eye surgeon usually suggests removal when the growth threatens vision, causes significant astigmatism, restricts eye movement, or stays inflamed and painful despite drops. The operation is done under local anaesthetic. Modern surgery covers the bare area with a thin graft of your own conjunctiva (autograft), often glued in place, which lowers the chance of regrowth compared with simply cutting it off.
Even so, it can grow back, especially in younger people who keep working in the sun. Regrowth is often more aggressive than the first one. That’s why surgeons don’t rush to operate on a small, quiet pterygium, and why sun protection after surgery matters even more than before.
Other eye questions are gathered in our Eye Care section.
Sudden vision loss or a painful red eye means a doctor the same day; a pterygium doesn’t cause either suddenly, so something else may be going on. Also see an eye doctor soon if the growth is spreading quickly, bleeds, looks white, crusty or unusual, appears in an unusual spot (not the corner), or your vision is getting blurrier. A growth on the eye that doesn’t look like a typical pterygium can occasionally be something more serious and needs checking. Don’t use steroid drops unless an eye doctor prescribes and monitors them.
Pterygium questions people ask
Can aankh ka maas go away without surgery?
A pterygium doesn’t disappear on its own. Drops can calm redness and irritation, and sun protection can slow growth, but only surgery removes it. Many people never need an operation.
Is pterygium dangerous?
It isn’t cancer and usually grows very slowly. It becomes a problem when it reaches towards the pupil or distorts the cornea, which blurs vision. Regular checks catch that early.
Can pterygium cause blindness?
Left untreated for many years, a large one can seriously blur sight, but that is preventable with timely surgery. It doesn’t cause sudden blindness.
Which eye drops are good for pterygium?
Preservative-free lubricating drops help grittiness. For inflamed flares, an eye doctor may prescribe a short course of something stronger; don’t buy steroid drops on your own.
Will pterygium come back after surgery?
It can. Graft techniques lower the risk a lot, but regrowth happens, especially with ongoing sun exposure. UV sunglasses and a hat after surgery are essential.
How long does pterygium surgery take to heal?
The eye is usually red and scratchy for one to two weeks, and fully settled over a few weeks. Your surgeon gives you drops and a check-up schedule to follow.
Do normal sunglasses protect against pterygium?
Only if they block UV. Look for UV400 or 100% UV protection on the label. Dark lenses without UV filtering can let in more harmful light.
Is pterygium the same as a cataract?
No. A pterygium grows on the surface of the eye, while a cataract is clouding of the lens inside. You can have both, and they are treated separately.
Can children get pterygium?
It’s rare in young children and more common after years of outdoor exposure. Still, sunglasses and caps for kids who play outside all day protect their eyes for later.