Seniors: Your vision is at risk of this…

As summer winds down it’s important to continue practicing healthy habits. Continue to apply sunscreen, bug spray and always remember to stay hydrated! These simple tips can protect you from many summertime health-related issues.

Another issue, which is often forgotten about, is our vision health. Just because the weather is nicer and the sun is brighter doesn’t mean you don’t have to protect your eyes. In fact, during the brighter, hotter months you should be more concerned about your eyes.

A common eye health issue during the summer is called pterygium (pronounced: tuh-rij-ee-uh m).

What is pterygium?

Pterygium, or surfer’s eye, is a condition that affects the eyes. Although the exact cause is unknown it has been speculated that too much exposure to the sun will lead to this condition. Pterygium is a growth that occurs on the conjunctiva – the thin, clear tissue covering the eye. The growth begins to cover the sclera, or the white part of the eyes, and extends over the cornea. The growth is raised and contains blood vessels that you can see. Both eyes are at risk of developing pterygium.

Between 2010 and 2014, 80 percent of patients in South Korea who sought out medical attention for pterygium were over the age of 50. This link suggests that age is a factor for developing this condition.

It’s important to note that the growth is non-cancerous and typically non-harmful. Surgery can be done to remove the growth, but when pterygium grows over the cornea it can lead to blurred vision.

As mentioned, overexposure to sunlight may cause pterygium. Dust or wind are also contributors. Generally pterygium is painless, but patients may report itchy or burning sensations.

Tips to protect your eyes from the harmful sun

Overexposure of the sun’s rays won’t just cause pterygium, it has been reported that those who expose their eyes to the sun are at higher risk of developing cataracts 10 years sooner compared to those who protect their eyes.

The best way to protect your eyes and vision is to wear sunglasses, preferably ones that block UVA and UVB light. For extra protection it’s a good practice to wear a hat with a visor as well. And if you think the overcast sky will protect your eyes, you’d be wrong. Even if there are clouds in the sky those harmful rays can peek through affecting your eyes.

Basically, if you want to enjoy the nicer weather and spend longer hours outdoor, besides the sun block and bug spray, wear a hat or sunglasses to protect your eyes.

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Sources:
http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/sun.cfm
http://yourhealth.asiaone.com/content/avoiding-surfers-eye-summer
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001011.htm