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UV Protection helps prevent ptyerygia
A pterygium is a growth of tissue, often triangular-shaped, that usually starts in one corner of the eye and can grow onto the cornea.
Pterygia can occur in both eyes and although they can look unsightly and cause some discomfort, they are benign lesions and are usually not dangerous.
The exact causes of ptyerygia are not known but exposure to ultraviolet rays over a long period is a risk factor. Harsh conditions such as heat, dryness, wind, dust and smoke can cause inflammation and irritation of existing pterygia and heredity is thought to play a role in their development.
Pterygia are more often seen in people from tropical climates as experienced in Northern Australia, but are also found in those who spend a great deal of time outdoors.
The best way to reduce your risk of developing a pterygium is to wear sunglasses whenever you are outdoors.
Optometrists at WA Opticians can provide advise about purchasing a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes against UV radiation.
In many cases, protecting your eyes from ultravoilet rays will stablise a ptergium if it is not actively growing.
In cases where the pterygium grows onto the cornea and distorts vision, the only effective treatment is surgical removal. Fortunately, this requires relatively minor surgery, which is usually performed under a local anaesthetic. As pterygia often grow back after surgery, prevention is better than cure.
If you have an area of raised tissue on or around your eyes, we recommend consulting your optometrist to have it diagnosed.
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