People can suffer from many different types of problems in the eye. Perhaps one of the most interesting, and intimidating, of these afflictions is a “pterygium”, otherwise known as “surfer’s eye”. Luckily, it can be treated, but before we talk about how to treat surfer’s eye, let’s talk about what it is.
What a Pterygium is, and What it is Not.
A pterygium is very recognizable. A pink, fleshy mass of tissue forms on the eye and sometimes slowly begins to spread toward the center. While it may look scary, it is usually relatively harmless in its early stages or if it is just small. However, left unchecked it can result in permanent vision loss.
Pterygia are caused primarily by long exposure to sunlight, or more specifically UV rays. This is where the nickname “surfer’s eye” comes from. While it has nothing to do with the actual act of surfing, anyone that spends an extended amount of time outside in direct sunlight is at risk. Of developing a pterygium. Factors such as dry eye disease, wind, or air particles (dust, sand, etc.) also play a role.
Because of how strange it looks, many people may jump to the conclusion that a pterygium is a tumor. However, pterygia are not cancerous. In fact, some people don’t experience symptoms beyond its unappealing appearance. Others may feel a constant itchiness, redness, and burning in their eye. Surfer’s eye becomes dangerous when the growth reaches your cornea, distorting and blurring vision. At this point, vision loss can become permanent due to scarring. This is why prevention and early detection are so important.
How to Avoid Surfer’s Eye.
Pterygia usually only occur in people between between the ages of 20 and 40, and typically those who live in sunny regions of the world (including our home state of California!). So it should come as no surprise that the best way to prevent getting one of these disturbing growths is to protect your eyes from the sun! That means only wearing sunglasses that are 100% UVA and UVB proof, as well as wearing a brimmed hat to give yourself some extra shade, and limiting your time in the sun.
Another very important part of preventing damage from pterygia is detecting them early. Schedule an eye exam once or twice a year. This will give you a heads up on any problems you may not know are occurring, and a head start in stopping them. Since California is famous for its sunny beaches, residents here are at higher risk for surfer’s eye.
Ellis Eye Center has numerous locations around California, including Gilroy, San Jose, San Francisco, and more. Come and see us soon to get all the information you need to keep your eyesight as healthy as possible!
