Have you been told you have “surfer’s eye?” This is just a nickname for a condition called pterygium, which affects surfers and non-surfers alike. Here, Los Angeles eye doctor Linda Vu of Linda Vision explains how the growth got its nickname, where it comes from and what can be done about it.Have you been told you have “surfer’s eye?” This is just a nickname for a condition called pterygium, which affects surfers and non-surfers alike. Here, Los Angeles eye doctor Linda Vu of Linda Vision explains how the growth got its nickname, where it comes from and what can be done about it.Have you been told you have “surfer’s eye?” This is just a nickname for a condition called pterygium, which affects surfers and non-surfers alike. Here, Los Angeles eye doctor Linda Vu of Linda Vision explains how the growth got its nickname, where it comes from and what can be done about it.
What Is a Pterygium?
A pterygium (commonly known as Carnosidad or Pterigión in Spanish), is a growth of fleshy pink scar tissue that starts in the sclera (the white portion of the eye) and can cross into the cornea. Pterygiums are benign and usually harmless, although they can cause bothersome symptoms and, depending how large they get, eventually affect vision.
Causes and Symptoms
Though experts have not determined the exact cause of pterygiums, they have some theories. The term “surfer’s eye” is actually a clue to one of the suspected origins of pterygium. Eye doctors believe that extended sun exposure is to blame. Spending hours in bright sunlight — especially on the water, which reflects the sun’s UV rays — raises the risk of developing the growths. Other possible causes include chronic irritants like dust and wind, and dry eye disease.
One or both eyes can develop a pterygium. Some of the symptoms include:
- Sensation of a foreign body in the eye
- Irritation
- Itching
- Burning
- Blurry vision
Dr. Vu diagnoses pterygiums through a comprehensive eye examination using a device called a slit-lamp. With the slit-lamp, she can look closely at the eye’s cornea, iris, lens and the space between the iris and cornea.
Pterygium Treatment Options
Artificial tears can provide relief from the sensation of a foreign body in the eyes; anti-inflammatory eye drops can also reduce swelling and redness of small pterygiums, but cannot be used long term.
Pterygiums do not need to be removed unless they are unsightly or cause problems. If a pterygium grows large enough, it can distort the cornea, leading to astigmatism and serious visual interference. When this happens, or a pterygium causes excessive eye irritation or discomfort, it becomes necessary to surgically remove the pterygium.
Pterygium surgery is performed on an outpatient basis at Dr. Vu’s office. Local anesthesia is used to numb the eye and prevent discomfort. The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes per pterygium. The thickened scar tissue is completely removed. Dr. Vu will also graft healthy normal tissue onto the area where the scar tissue was removed. This reduces the risk of the pterygium recurring to less than 5 percent (without grafting, the chances of recurrence are around 85 percent). Intensive anti-inflammatory eye drops on a strict schedule are used to help with recovery and reduce the risk of pterygium recurrence.
Contact Dr. Linda Vu
To learn more about pterygium and how it is treated, please contact Dr. Linda Vu, serving Los Angeles and all surrounding areas, by calling (626) 382-2020.
What Is a Pterygium?
A pterygium (commonly known as Carnosidad or Pterigión in Spanish), is a growth of fleshy pink scar tissue that starts in the sclera (the white portion of the eye) and can cross into the cornea. Pterygiums are benign and usually harmless, although they can cause bothersome symptoms and, depending how large they get, eventually affect vision.
Causes and Symptoms
Though experts have not determined the exact cause of pterygiums, they have some theories. The term “surfer’s eye” is actually a clue to one of the suspected origins of pterygium. Eye doctors believe that extended sun exposure is to blame. Spending hours in bright sunlight — especially on the water, which reflects the sun’s UV rays — raises the risk of developing the growths. Other possible causes include chronic irritants like dust and wind, and dry eye disease.
One or both eyes can develop a pterygium. Some of the symptoms include:
- Sensation of a foreign body in the eye
- Irritation
- Itching
- Burning
- Blurry vision
Dr. Vu diagnoses pterygiums through a comprehensive eye examination using a device called a slit-lamp. With the slit-lamp, she can look closely at the eye’s cornea, iris, lens and the space between the iris and cornea.
Pterygium Treatment Options
Artificial tears can provide relief from the sensation of a foreign body in the eyes; anti-inflammatory eye drops can also reduce swelling and redness of small pterygiums, but cannot be used long term.
Pterygiums do not need to be removed unless they are unsightly or cause problems. If a pterygium grows large enough, it can distort the cornea, leading to astigmatism and serious visual interference. When this happens, or a pterygium causes excessive eye irritation or discomfort, it becomes necessary to surgically remove the pterygium.
Pterygium surgery is performed on an outpatient basis at Dr. Vu’s office. Local anesthesia is used to numb the eye and prevent discomfort. The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes per pterygium. The thickened scar tissue is completely removed. Dr. Vu will also graft healthy normal tissue onto the area where the scar tissue was removed. This reduces the risk of the pterygium recurring to less than 5 percent (without grafting, the chances of recurrence are around 85 percent). Intensive anti-inflammatory eye drops on a strict schedule are used to help with recovery and reduce the risk of pterygium recurrence.
Contact Dr. Linda Vu
To learn more about pterygium and how it is treated, please contact Dr. Linda Vu, serving Los Angeles and all surrounding areas, by calling (626) 382-2020.
What Is a Pterygium?
A pterygium (commonly known as Carnosidad or Pterigión in Spanish), is a growth of fleshy pink scar tissue that starts in the sclera (the white portion of the eye) and can cross into the cornea. Pterygiums are benign and usually harmless, although they can cause bothersome symptoms and, depending how large they get, eventually affect vision.
Causes and Symptoms
Though experts have not determined the exact cause of pterygiums, they have some theories. The term “surfer’s eye” is actually a clue to one of the suspected origins of pterygium. Eye doctors believe that extended sun exposure is to blame. Spending hours in bright sunlight — especially on the water, which reflects the sun’s UV rays — raises the risk of developing the growths. Other possible causes include chronic irritants like dust and wind, and dry eye disease.
One or both eyes can develop a pterygium. Some of the symptoms include:
- Sensation of a foreign body in the eye
- Irritation
- Itching
- Burning
- Blurry vision
Dr. Vu diagnoses pterygiums through a comprehensive eye examination using a device called a slit-lamp. With the slit-lamp, she can look closely at the eye’s cornea, iris, lens and the space between the iris and cornea.
Pterygium Treatment Options
Artificial tears can provide relief from the sensation of a foreign body in the eyes; anti-inflammatory eye drops can also reduce swelling and redness of small pterygiums, but cannot be used long term.
Pterygiums do not need to be removed unless they are unsightly or cause problems. If a pterygium grows large enough, it can distort the cornea, leading to astigmatism and serious visual interference. When this happens, or a pterygium causes excessive eye irritation or discomfort, it becomes necessary to surgically remove the pterygium.
Pterygium surgery is performed on an outpatient basis at Dr. Vu’s office. Local anesthesia is used to numb the eye and prevent discomfort. The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes per pterygium. The thickened scar tissue is completely removed. Dr. Vu will also graft healthy normal tissue onto the area where the scar tissue was removed. This reduces the risk of the pterygium recurring to less than 5 percent (without grafting, the chances of recurrence are around 85 percent). Intensive anti-inflammatory eye drops on a strict schedule are used to help with recovery and reduce the risk of pterygium recurrence.
Contact Dr. Linda Vu
To learn more about pterygium and how it is treated, please contact Dr. Linda Vu, serving Los Angeles and all surrounding areas, by calling (626) 382-2020.