Pterygium in the eye of a 57-year-old womman. Pterygium is an overgrowth of the cornea. The thickened tissue is seen encroaching on the iris (blue). I

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Pterygium in the eye of a 57-year-old womman. Pterygium is an overgrowth of the cornea. The thickened tissue is seen encroaching on the iris (blue). It has dragged some small blood vessels with it, which appear to be stretched towards the centre of the eye. The cornea lies over the iris and plays a role in focusing light onto the retina. If the extension of the cornea threatens the patient's vision, the pterygium can be surgically removed. This condition is most commonly seen in people from dry, hot and dusty climates, and only rarely interferes with vision.

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Size: 5135px × 3442px
Photo credit: © DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 50s, 57, 57-year-, adult, biological, biology, blood, body, caucasian, cornea, eye, eyeball, female, fifties, human, medical, medicine, ocular, ophthalmics, ophthalmology, organ, overgrowth, patient, pterygium, sense, sight, thickened, thickening, vessel, vessels, vision, woman, years