The eye is a very important part of the body, without the eye we will not be able to see the world and moving around without sight is very difficult.
However, there are some diseases that are unavoidable. Straining our eyes could lead to some diseases like Pterygium.
Definition : It is also called the Surfer’s Eye, it is characterized as the growth of a thin tissue at the sclera which is the white part of the eye. Sometimes, when you experience Pterygium it does not need to be remove but if it reaches the cornea then it is a serious condition.
Generally, the conjunctiva in the eye is the part wherein the Pterygium while form. Conjunctiva is the one responsible for protecting the sclera and whole eye; it also provides lubrication to moisture the eye. Once the Pterygium spreads in the sclera, it may reach the cornea and your condition might worsen.
Nevertheless it can be cured and there are ways in which you can prevent it from happening again. Researches states that Pterygium would likely to occur on men than on women and children have lower chances of having it.
Ultraviolet light from the sun affects the conjunctiva and the Pterygium starts to form. Aside from the sun, arid surroundings would also result to this disease. Dry weather could make the moisture in the eye dry too.
For people who always have dry eyes, they have higher chances of getting Pterygium. Even if your surroundings are dry either outdoor or indoor, you may the risks of having Pterygium.
Aside from too much sun and dry weather, too much wind may also be one reason why you may experience Pterygium. Wind can also dry and cause itchiness in our eyes. These are the most common causes or reasons why Pterygium might happen to you. For people who always have outdoor jobs like farmers, fishermen, construction worker etc., are the most common people who are prone to this disease.
Therefore, for those individuals who are always having outdoor jobs or activities, it is recommended that they use sunglasses or use eye drops to moisture their eyes. In that way, it will help you reduce your chances of getting Pterygium and other eye diseases as well.
At first you may experience some irritation in your eye especially if you are always exposed to the sun. It will be followed by redness and soreness. Some people often feel this kind of way when they get too much sun exposure.
This could lead to other serious symptoms like inflammation which would really sound painful to the patient. At this point patients should now seek for the help of an ophthalmologist so that your eyes could be checked.
These symptoms are only for the earlier stages of Pterygium only. Getting an operation regarding the situation should only be done is the doctor says so. Some of the symptoms in the early stages of Pterygium might only be taken by some people as a simple itchiness and the like.
They would make use eye drops just to ease the feeling and they would be fine with it, it also difficult to diagnose it at first but once the later symptoms happen, doctors would be sure about it.
The later symptoms would diagnose the patient with Pterygium and these symptoms would really make a huge harm on the eyes. One of the last symptoms of Pterygium would be the feeling of a foreign body in your eyes.
This symptom would ensure that there is a formation of a thin tissue already at the sclera. After sometime, if the person will just disregard the previous symptoms, then it is possible that his/her eye would have a blurred vision; not just a blurred vision but even loss of sight.
This is a very serious matter already for when the thin tissues start to reach the cornea, it may damage it temporarily or even permanently.
However, it does not mean that Pterygium would not occur to you; there is still a chance that you might have it. You shouldn’t lose hope that it will not happen to you for using eye drops is one way of preventing Pterygium.
The Pterygium should be removed at once before it would do a permanent harm to you which would be loss of eyesight. It is a good thing that you could remove it by surgery so as to ensure that it will not harm your eye, but do not feel safe with just that. After your surgery, there is still a chance that you will have Pterygium again.
This may happen because of your constant exposure to wind, dust and dry condition. Once you got operated and your Pterygium got removed, remember to always use sunglasses or eye drops to protect your eyes.
In that way, you will not have to undergo another surgery. You will have to repeat the process again if you do not take preventive measures.
References:
However, there are some diseases that are unavoidable. Straining our eyes could lead to some diseases like Pterygium.
What is Pterygium ?
Definition : It is also called the Surfer’s Eye, it is characterized as the growth of a thin tissue at the sclera which is the white part of the eye. Sometimes, when you experience Pterygium it does not need to be remove but if it reaches the cornea then it is a serious condition.
Picture 1: Pterygium affected eye
image source: northernbeachescataract.com.au
Generally, the conjunctiva in the eye is the part wherein the Pterygium while form. Conjunctiva is the one responsible for protecting the sclera and whole eye; it also provides lubrication to moisture the eye. Once the Pterygium spreads in the sclera, it may reach the cornea and your condition might worsen.
Nevertheless it can be cured and there are ways in which you can prevent it from happening again. Researches states that Pterygium would likely to occur on men than on women and children have lower chances of having it.
What to do to avoid Pterygium
The root cause of Pterygium is still unknown yet there are some incidents that would result to this disease. Too much sun exposure of the eye is one reason why Pterygium occurs. This is because theUltraviolet light from the sun affects the conjunctiva and the Pterygium starts to form. Aside from the sun, arid surroundings would also result to this disease. Dry weather could make the moisture in the eye dry too.
For people who always have dry eyes, they have higher chances of getting Pterygium. Even if your surroundings are dry either outdoor or indoor, you may the risks of having Pterygium.
picture 2: ultra violet rays damage on eye
image source: labuschagnealbertsoptom.co.za
Aside from too much sun and dry weather, too much wind may also be one reason why you may experience Pterygium. Wind can also dry and cause itchiness in our eyes. These are the most common causes or reasons why Pterygium might happen to you. For people who always have outdoor jobs like farmers, fishermen, construction worker etc., are the most common people who are prone to this disease.
Therefore, for those individuals who are always having outdoor jobs or activities, it is recommended that they use sunglasses or use eye drops to moisture their eyes. In that way, it will help you reduce your chances of getting Pterygium and other eye diseases as well.
Earlier signs should be prevented
How would you know if you have Pterygium? Symptoms should always be observed first before you are diagnosed. The thin tissue does not grow instantly without you noticing it.At first you may experience some irritation in your eye especially if you are always exposed to the sun. It will be followed by redness and soreness. Some people often feel this kind of way when they get too much sun exposure.
This could lead to other serious symptoms like inflammation which would really sound painful to the patient. At this point patients should now seek for the help of an ophthalmologist so that your eyes could be checked.
picture 3:Initial stages of pterygium affected eye
image source: koreamed.org
After the inflammation, sometimes there are people who feel tearing in the eye and would even cause bleeding and the sensation of burning. An ophthalmologist, an eye specialist would help you find ways to ease these symptoms.These symptoms are only for the earlier stages of Pterygium only. Getting an operation regarding the situation should only be done is the doctor says so. Some of the symptoms in the early stages of Pterygium might only be taken by some people as a simple itchiness and the like.
They would make use eye drops just to ease the feeling and they would be fine with it, it also difficult to diagnose it at first but once the later symptoms happen, doctors would be sure about it.
Picture 4:Advanced stage of pterygium
image source: eyenj.com
The later symptoms would diagnose the patient with Pterygium and these symptoms would really make a huge harm on the eyes. One of the last symptoms of Pterygium would be the feeling of a foreign body in your eyes.
This symptom would ensure that there is a formation of a thin tissue already at the sclera. After sometime, if the person will just disregard the previous symptoms, then it is possible that his/her eye would have a blurred vision; not just a blurred vision but even loss of sight.
This is a very serious matter already for when the thin tissues start to reach the cornea, it may damage it temporarily or even permanently.
Treatment methods for better eye condition : Surgical Removal
If you have experienced all of the symptoms of Pterygium, then you should at first consult an ophthalmologist to make sure that it will not do more harm to your eye. For the earlier symptoms of Pterygium, some eye drops would help you ease the feeling of itchiness, dryness, and redness.However, it does not mean that Pterygium would not occur to you; there is still a chance that you might have it. You shouldn’t lose hope that it will not happen to you for using eye drops is one way of preventing Pterygium.
picture 5: Before and after pterygium disease
image source: beverlyhillsphysicians.com
However, for those who are disregarding the earlier symptoms, they would have no choice but to undergo surgery. The Pterygium should be removed at once before it would do a permanent harm to you which would be loss of eyesight. It is a good thing that you could remove it by surgery so as to ensure that it will not harm your eye, but do not feel safe with just that. After your surgery, there is still a chance that you will have Pterygium again.
This may happen because of your constant exposure to wind, dust and dry condition. Once you got operated and your Pterygium got removed, remember to always use sunglasses or eye drops to protect your eyes.
In that way, you will not have to undergo another surgery. You will have to repeat the process again if you do not take preventive measures.
References:
- http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions/pterygium.html
- http://www.surgerydoor.co.uk/advice/diseases/pterygium/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterygium_(conjunctiva)
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001011.htm
- http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/392/main.html
- http://www.pterygiumsurgery.com/
- http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/pterygium-causes-symptoms-and-treatments-4451433.html#axzz1PmzCWSSw
- http://www.stlukeseye.com/Conditions/pterygium.html
- http://www.apagrafix.com/patiented/PTE001/pterygium.HTM
