Ways to Prevent a Pterygium

First of all it is important to answer the question, what is a
pterygium? This is quite a rare condition that not a huge number of
people have generally heard of. A pterygium is a raised bit of tissue
that develops and grows over the cornea. It looks like a yellowish bump
on the white of the eye. It is much more common in hot or tropical
climates where eyes are subjected to greater exposure to the sun,
although it can also develop from exposure to UV light from tanning
beds. Although the condition is not very serious, it can cause redness
of the eyes and irritation. Sometimes vision can be impaired although
this is only in the more serious of cases.



Treating the condition begins usually with a course of eye drops.
Artificial tear drops can also be used which will may help rid the eye
of the problem. If the pterygium begins to move and start to enter the
cornea then action will need to be taken in the form of a quick and
simple surgical procedure. Surgery is perfectly suited to treat this
procedure. Taking just a few minutes, the eye can be free from the
irritation and problems caused by this condition. There is a very short
recovery period, usually a patient will be back at work the following
day and the chances of problems arising or infections developing are
rare.



The best way to prevent a pterygium occurring at all is to always make
sure you wear sun glasses when out and about. Sunglasses are in fact a
legitimate medical aid. UV light is extremely damaging to both the eyes
and the skin, so covering both up is very important. Sunglasses and a
hat is the ideal summer get up - the hat protects your skin which keeps
cancer and wrinkles at bay, and the sunglasses protect the eyes well.
Make sure you use glasses that have a good UVA and UVB protection
promise however, as some cheap varieties do not provide adequate
protection against the harmful rays. It is not the light that harms the
eyes, it is the UV rays that become absorbed by the eye. The skin around
the eye is particularly susceptible to skin cancer too as it is very
thin and contains a high volume of blood vessels.



Many sunglasses do carry labels claiming they absorb 100% of UV rays,
but this is not always actually true. Cheap sunglasses are generally
cheap because they do not have the correct lenses that are needed to
provide the protection against UV. It is also imperative that adequate
eye protection is worn if you are using a sun bed. The intense amount of
UV rays emitted by a sun bed can be extremely damaging to the eyes so
eye goggles must be worn at all times.



Good eye care is important throughout your life. Although a pterygium
may not be as serious as other eye problems, it does indicate your eyes
have been damaged. This may mean that eye problems in the future are
more likely. To prevent this happening to you, invest in a good quality
pair of sunglasses from the optician if necessary and eat plenty of
fruits and green vegetables for good overall eye health. Developing a
pterygium doesn't necessary mean eye cataracts will develop or even that
eye treatments will be needed, but it is best to avoid taking this
risk. An optician will be able to advise you on the right type of
sunglasses to buy. Bear in mind that cheap sunglasses found on the
street are unlikely to provide the UV protection your eyes need for good
health, and your eyes and sight are too important to put at risk.