Pittwater Life January 2019 Issue

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Reduce sun exposure to
manage pterygium risk
pterygium (pronounced teridge-ee-um)
is a triangular-
A
shaped lump of tissue with
blood vessels that grow from
the conjunctiva (the thin membrane
that covers the white of
the eye) on to the cornea (the
clear central part of the eye).
They frequently occur in both
eyes, usually on the side of
the eye closer to the nose. A
pterygium is not a cancer. People
sometimes confuse pterygia
with cataracts, but a cataract is
a clouding of the lens inside the
eye and cannot be seen easily
with the naked eye.
The development of pterygia
is strongly associated with
exposure to UV radiation and
hot, dry environments. Surfers,
farmers and those who spend
a lot of time outdoors are more
susceptible, but anyone can
develop a pterygium.
Pterygia are not dangerous,
but they can cause irritation
and redness. They may also
interfere with vision as their
growth can distort the surface
of the eye, and if the pterygium
grows on to the central part of
the cornea it can begin to block
light from entering the eye.
Although a pterygium is
not dangerous, it should be
checked to make sure that it is
not something more serious. If
you have any area of tissue on
or around the eyes that changes
rapidly or that you have not had
checked previously you should
make an appointment with an
optometrist.
In cases where the pterygium
is not actively growing on to
the cornea, protecting the eyes
from UV light will often stabilise
its growth. In many cases, provided
it is not threatening vision
and it remains stable, this may
be all that is required.
If a pterygium causes
discomfort, eye drops and ointments
may be useful and your
optometrist can advise you on
the use of eye drops to assist
in making the eye less red and
more comfortable.
In cases where a pterygium
is actively growing on to the
cornea and threatening to
distort the vision, the only
effective treatment is surgical
removal. This surgery is usually
performed under a local anaesthetic.
It is best to have surgery
before the pterygium progresses
to the point where it interferes
with vision. Your optometrist
can assess the pterygium and
refer you to an eye surgeon as
required.
Optometrists are often
asked if those with pterygia are
suitable for contact lens wear.
Assessment of the individual
situation is important as these
cases may require more regular
contact lens follow-up to monitor
changes in corneal shape
that may indicate progression of
the pterygium and review of the
ongoing suitability of the fit of
the contact lens.
The best way to reduce your
risk of developing a pterygium,
or to slow the progression of an
existing pterygium, is to protect
the eyes from UV exposure. UV
radiation can also cause cataracts
and other eye diseases, as
well as skin cancers, so reducing
exposure is a wise move. The
best ways of doing this are to:
Avoid the sun – UV radiation
with Rowena Beckenham
is strongest between between
10am and 3pm and we all know
that staying out of the sun
between those times will significantly
reduce your UV exposure.
Wear a hat – a broad-brimmed
hat will not only protect your
head from sunburn, but will reduce
by at least half the amount
of UV radiation reaching your
eyes.
Wear sunglasses – a good pair
of sunglasses will reduce the
amount of UV reaching your
eyes and cut the amount of
glare. Wrap-around sunglasses
are best as they block UV
radiation that can slip around
the sides of conventional sunglasses.
Parents should ensure that
they protect the eyes of babies
and children from ultraviolet
light through the use of hats
and children’s sunglasses that
meet the Australian Standards.
Pterygia can grow back after
they have been surgically removed
so it is important to follow
the recommendations above
for the prevention of pterygia.
Comment supplied by Rowena Beckenham, of
Beckenham Optometrist in Avalon (9918 0616). Rowena
has been involved in all facets of independent private
practice optometry in Avalon for 16 years, in addition
to working as a consultant to the optometric and
pharmaceutical industry, and regularly volunteering in
Aboriginal eyecare programs in regional NSW.
46 JANUARY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991