What Is Pterygium?

There are a range of different eye conditions that can affect our vision and make it difficult to get through the day. Knowing about common eye conditions and how to deal with them can make a big difference in your overall eye health. For those looking for an optometrist in the Woodstock area, Oxford Optometry can help with all your eye care needs.

What Is Pterygium?

Pterygium is a fairly common eye condition that causes a growth on the conjunctiva, or surface of the eye. This is the clear film of tissue that covers the cornea. This growth is non-cancerous and is often wedge shaped. In most cases, these growths do not interfere with the function of the eye and do not affect comfort either. This means that a large number of people will not have to have anything done about a pterygium that grows on their eyes.

What Causes Pterygium?

There are no exact causes for this condition that are known, but it is thought that overexposure to UV light can cause the growth, much like overexposure to UV light causes cataracts. There are other possible causes such as sand, pollen, and smoke that can also cause this disorder. This disorder most often affects people that live in windy or sunny areas and spend a lot of their time outside. It is also commonly referred to as "surfer’s eye." You may have a pterygium without any side effects or any symptoms. For those that do feel symptoms, you might experience a burning sensation, blurred vision, redness of the eye, and even disruption of vision depending on where the growth is located. The thicker the growth, the more likely it is to cause noticeable symptoms.

Treatment

It is unlikely that your doctor is going to want to intervene or do anything serious for a pterygium unless it is in your line of vision and making it hard for you to see or causing you pain or discomfort. Your optometrist might prescribe eye drops to help with pain and discomfort if the pterygium causes it. If you are having trouble seeing as the result of a pterygium, your eyecare professional will likely recommend it be removed to help restore your vision.

With the help of optometry professionals like our team at Oxford Optometry, you can have your pterygium diagnosed, monitored, and treated so that you can get back to your day to day life. Though this is an irritating disorder, it does not have to have a huge negative impact on your life. If you are in the Woodstock area, contact us today online or over the phone to find out more.