When it comes to spending long summer days waiting for sets and squinting into the sun , your eyeballs can pay the price. Longer term effects on your eyes can be numerous, but one of the most common—and most concerning—is known as ”conjunctival pterygium.” Researchers believe that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can induce the growth of a wing-like membrane that begins to develop near the "conjunctiva" (the corner of the eye near the nose) and gradually works its way towards the cornea (the eye's clear portion), covering more and more of the eyeball as it progresses. Once the membrane reaches the cornea, one’s vision will begin to be affected.
What Is Pterygium?
The condition known as pterygium is considered "benign" (not a threat to life or health), but it can cause extreme eye discomfort including itching, burning, redness and other symptoms. It is also very unsightly. While discomfort can be relieved, and the progress of a pterygium growth can be arrested, pterygium cannot be reversed except through surgery. By and large, pterygium is curable only by surgery, but thankfully, it’s easily preventable.
Why Is Tear Film Important?
The eye's first line of defense against external irritants is the extremely thin but highly complex tear film that coats the optical surface. Numerous environmental factors, including bacteria, UV radiation, wind, dust, airborne sand, air pollution, air-conditioning and much more, can cause evaporation that results in slight, moderate or even severe tear film moisture (water) loss, known as "dehydration" or dry eye. You may not feel the symptoms in slight or moderate moisture loss. When eyes are simultaneously exposed to several strongly dehydrating factors, discomfort is experienced, small lesions begin to appear on the corneal surface and the tear film cannot function normally. Keep this up and conditions will be in place for pteygium. Fortunately, everything but the pterygium is immediately reversed once tear film moisture is replenished.
Healthy Tear Film Means Happy Eyes
Although everyone is susceptible to tear film dehydration, if you are a surfer, you should pay extra attention tear film health, not only when surfing but always. A healthy tear film at home can better fight off extreme challenges at the beach. Here are some other steps you can take to mitigate the effects:
- Wear sunglasses on the beach (polarized if possible).
- Take a shower, and/or wash your eyes with a warm compress, as soon as possible after surfing.
- Set out bowls of water in your house to humidify the air, especially when the heater or air-conditioner are on.
- Commit to a daily facial cleansing. Using a washcloth and very mild, liquid soap, spend five to ten minutes applying repeated hot water compresses to your face (This also helps keep the eyelid skin healthy, where glands are located that produce many of the tear film's components).
- Let as much fresh air into the house as you can, especially in the bathroom.
- Wear eye protection when in the water (tinted, water-tight goggles).
- There is also anecdotal evidence that rinsing your eyes with fresh coconut water can help combat pteygium, but it has to come straight from the coconut; not the pasteurized stuff in the grocery store.
With a little tender, loving care, and some awareness about what the sun and environment can do to you eyes, it's not impossible to avoid pteygium growth, or Surfer's Eye. So wear those sunnies, keep the hat down and keep that vision sharp.
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