What is a pterygium or surfer’s eye?

Introduction

A pterygium is an eye condition with many other names. Commonly known as surfer’s eye, it’s often experienced by people who live in hot sunny regions or have overexposure to UV light. While it can look scary and cause vision problems, it’s not usually a serious condition and is easily treated. Here, we look at identifying pterygia, the leading causes, what you can do to minimise these and treatment options.

What is a pterygium?

It’s a fleshy growth that typically develops in the corner of the eye (often triangular or wedge-shaped) that extends onto the cornea. If left untreated, this noncancerous growth can become irritating, and as the growth extends across the cornea, your vision is impaired. While it usually only affects one eye, it can affect both simultaneously – this is known as bilateral pterygia.

2. What are the symptoms?

Sometimes you won’t notice any symptoms before the pterygium appears. However, often you might experience:

• Eye redness and inflammation
• A gritty or burning feeling
• Dryness due to reduced tear production, or increased tears
• A slightly raised pink growth on your eye
• Blurring or obscuring of vision in later stages

3. What causes the growth?

The leading cause of a pterygium is exposure to UV light, which is why it’s also known as surfer’s eye. For this reason, it’s not common in children and tends to occur in people aged 20 to 50, affecting roughly 12% of people worldwide and more frequently in males. It’s particularly prevalent in:

• Regions with depleted ozone layers, like New Zealand
• Sailors, surfers and skiers who experience high levels of reflected UV light
• People who work outdoors, such as farmers and fishermen
• Workers exposed to equipment that emits UV light, such as arc welders

Other causes include family history and repeated eye irritation from hot and dry weather or wind and dust.

4. Can it be prevented?

Yes, it can. The best way to reduce your risk of a pterygium forming is to reduce your exposure to the factors that cause it to occur.

This includes:

• Wearing sunglasses every day, all year round, even on overcast days. Choose a pair of wraparound sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB light for the best protection. This is particularly important if you spend a considerable amount of time on the water or snow.
• Choose a hat with a substantial brim when outdoors.
• Avoid exposure to irritants like smoke, dust and wind.
• Wear appropriate eye protection (glasses or goggles) in work environments that expose you to irritants or UV.
• Use artificial tears to keep your eyes moist – particularly if you live in a dry climate.

5. Treatment Options

An ophthalmologist will diagnose the condition by looking at the front part of your eye with a special microscope called a slit lamp. Generally, no other tests are needed for diagnosis. The recommended treatment options will depend on the severity of the pterygium.

If your symptoms are mild, you may not need any treatment

A specialist will simply schedule regular visits to check if the pterygium is growing or causing vision problems.

If your symptoms are severe, surgery or medication may be required

If the pterygium grows large enough to affect your vision, your eye doctor may recommend lubricating or anti-inflammatory eye drops. Occasionally, an ophthalmologist may recommend steroid eye drops.

Surgery is recommended if your vision is severely affected and if eye drops aren’t providing adequate relief.

It involves the removal of the pterygium from the sclera (white of the eye) and cornea of the eye, which is then covered with a small graft of your healthy tissue (usually taken from under your upper eyelid). The graft is then secured with advanced natural tissue glue to aid healing and comfort.

While the procedure is mostly painless, it’s normal for your eyes to feel scratchy for a few days post-surgery. To help with recovery, you will need to use eye drops for about a month afterwards.

Protection is the best prevention

Whether it’s increased exposure through your work environment, a hobby or simply a product of an outdoor lifestyle, adequately protecting your eyes is the best way to prevent a pterygium.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms or are concerned about the possibility of a pterygium on your eye, speak to one of Auckland Eye’s highly trained ophthalmologists for specialist care today.

Book an appointment now at https://www.aucklandeye.co.nz/contact-us/ or call 0800 25 53 93