When your eye starts to look cloudy or red near the corner, it might not be just dryness or fatigue—it could be surfer's eye, a noncancerous growth on the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye. Also known as pterygium, it’s not just a problem for surfers. Anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors in sunny, windy, or dusty environments is at risk. This isn’t a rare condition. It’s common in people who live near the equator, work outside, or spend hours on the water, snow, or desert without proper eye protection.
UV damage, long-term exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun is the main driver behind surfer's eye. It doesn’t happen overnight. It builds up over years—like sunburn on your skin, but on your eye. Wind and dry air make it worse by irritating the surface and speeding up tissue changes. That’s why it often shows up on the side of the eye closest to the nose, where sunlight hits most directly. You can’t reverse it with eye drops, but you can stop it from getting worse. Sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, wide-brimmed hats, and avoiding peak sun hours are your best defense.
Most cases don’t need surgery. If the growth is small and doesn’t bother you, lubricating eye drops or anti-inflammatory drops can help with redness and irritation. But if it starts to grow over the cornea, blurs your vision, or just looks unsightly, that’s when doctors talk about removal. The procedure is quick, done in the office under local anesthesia, and recovery takes about a week. Still, there’s a chance it comes back—especially if you keep exposing your eyes to the same conditions.
What you’ll find here are real, practical stories and guides on how people manage this condition—whether they’re lifeguards, farmers, skiers, or just weekend hikers. You’ll see how simple habits like wearing the right sunglasses made all the difference. You’ll learn what treatments actually work, what doesn’t, and how to tell if your eye change is harmless or something you should get checked. There’s no magic cure, but there are clear steps you can take right now to protect your vision and avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor.
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
