When your eye starts to develop a fleshy, wedge-shaped growth on the white part, it’s often a pterygium, a noncancerous tissue growth that extends from the conjunctiva onto the cornea. Also known as surfer’s eye, it’s not a tumor — but it can get big enough to block your vision or make your eye look red and irritated. This isn’t rare. People who spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in sunny, windy, or dusty places, are at higher risk. It’s not just surfers — farmers, construction workers, and even daily commuters without sunglasses can develop it over time.
The pinguecula, a yellowish bump on the conjunctiva that doesn’t grow over the cornea often comes first. Many confuse the two, but while a pinguecula stays put, a pterygium keeps growing. UV light is the main driver. Studies show people in tropical zones have up to four times higher rates than those in temperate climates. Dry air, wind, and sand make it worse by irritating the eye’s surface and triggering abnormal cell growth. It’s not contagious. It doesn’t come from infections or poor hygiene. It’s environmental — and preventable.
Most people don’t need surgery. If the growth is small and not bothering you, eye drops or artificial tears can calm redness and discomfort. But if it starts creeping toward your pupil, blurring your vision, or making it hard to wear contacts, you’ll need to talk to an eye doctor. Surgery is the only way to remove it, but it can come back — sometimes in over half the cases if you don’t protect your eyes afterward. That’s why wearing UV-blocking sunglasses daily, even on cloudy days, matters more than you think. A wide-brimmed hat helps too. It’s not about looking cool — it’s about keeping your vision clear for years to come.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a medical textbook. It’s real-world advice from people who’ve dealt with eye conditions, drug interactions, and long-term health trade-offs. You’ll see how common medications can affect eye health, why some treatments work better than others, and what simple habits make the biggest difference. No fluff. Just what you need to know to protect your eyes — and your future sight.
Pterygium, or Surfer's Eye, is a UV-induced growth on the eye that can blur vision. Learn how sun exposure causes it, how to stop it from growing, and what surgical options work best to prevent recurrence.
Detail
