Pterygiums are triangular overgrowths of the membrane covering the
white of the eye called the conjunctiva. This conjunctiva normally only
covers the white of the eye but when it grows and invades onto the
clear cornea of the eye, we call this a pterygium. It is strongly associated
with exposure to UV radiation and hot, dry climates. It is not a
cancer and is thus not dangerous but all growths should be checked
out to make sure it is not. If the pterygium does grow into the central
cornea then the vision can be disturbed and surgical removal may
need to be considered. The best protection against pterygiums is prevention
by wearing sunglasses whenever outdoors as well as a
brimmed hat.
retinal detachments
Most commonly caused by trauma, retinal detachments can lead to
irreversible vision loss if not detected and treated early. The retina can
be compared to the ‘film in a camera’ and once it is detached from the
eye the tissue quickly dies and vision can not be restored once this
occurs. High amounts of myopia (short-sightedness) can also increase
the risk of retinal detachment and so any person with a moderate to
high amount of myopia should be routinely examined for weaknesses
in the retina. The most common signs of a retinal detachment are flashing
lights and black spots or floaters in your vision. If you are witnessing
any of these signs than you need to have your eyes checked as a
matter of urgency.
Pterygiums are triangular overgrowths of the membrane covering the
white of the eye called the conjunctiva. This conjunctiva normally only
covers the white of the eye but when it grows and invades onto the
clear cornea of the eye, we call this a pterygium. It is strongly associated
with exposure to UV radiation and hot, dry climates. It is not a
cancer and is thus not dangerous but all growths should be checked
out to make sure it is not. If the pterygium does grow into the central
cornea then the vision can be disturbed and surgical removal may
need to be considered. The best protection against pterygiums is prevention
by wearing sunglasses whenever outdoors as well as a
brimmed hat.
