Q. What is a pterygium?
A. A pterygium (pronounced te-ri-gi-um, plural: pterygia) is a triangular-shaped lump of tissue which grows from the conjunctiva (the thin membrane which covers the white of the eye) on to the cornea (the clear central part of the eye). Pterygia often occur in both eyes, usually on the side of the eye closer to the nose. A pterygia is not a cancer. People sometimes confuse pterygia with cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye and cannot be seen easily with the naked eye.

Q. What causes pterygia?
A. The exact causes of pterygia are not known, but they are strongly associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation and hot, dry environments. Pterygia are more common in the Northern parts of Australia and among people such as farmers and surfers who spend a lot of time outdoors, but anyone can develop a pterygium.

Q. Are pterygia dangerous?
A. Pterygia are not dangerous, although they can look ugly and cause some discomfort. The main problem with pterygia is that as they grow on the cornea they distort it, interfering with vision. If the pterygium grows on to the central part of the cornea it can begin to block light from entering the eye. Although a pterygium is not dangerous, it should be checked to make sure that it is not something more serious. If you have any area of tissue on or around the eyes that changes rapidly you should consult an optometrist or eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) immediately.

Q. How can pterygia be treated?
A. In cases where the pterygium is not actively growing on to the cornea, protecting the eyes from ultraviolet light often will stabilise its growth. In many cases, provided it is not threatening vision and it remains stable, this may be all that is required. In cases where the pterygium is actively growing on to the cornea and threatening to distort the vision, the only effective treatment is surgical removal. Fortunately this is relatively minor surgery which usually is performed under a local anaesthetic. It is best to have surgery before the pterygium progresses to the point where it interferes with vision. Your optometrist can assess the pterygium and refer you to an eye surgeon if it requires removal.

Q. How can pterygia be prevented?
A. The best way to reduce your risk of developing a pterygium is to protect your eyes from ultraviolet light. UV radiation can also cause cataracts and other eye diseases, as well as skin cancers, so reducing exposure is a wise move.
The best ways of doing this are to:
-Avoid the sun In summer, three-quarters of outdoors UV exposure occurs between 10 am and 2 pm. Staying out of the sun between those times will significantly reduce your UV exposure.
-Wear a hat. A broad-brimmed hat will not only protect your head from sunburn, but will reduce by at least half the amount of UV radiation reaching your eyes.
- Wear sunglasses. A good pair of sunglasses will reduce the amount of UV reaching your eyes and cut the amount of glare. Wrap-around style sunglasses are best as they block UV radiation which can slip around the sides of conventional sunglasses.

Q. How well will I be able to see if my lens is removed?
A. In most cases very well, usually even better than before removal of the cataract. Most patients have an intra-ocular lens (I0L) inserted at the time of surgery, with excellent results. This is a plastic lens which replaces your own cloudy lens. Patients may also need to wear spectacles or contact lenses.

Q. What are the signs of cataracts?
A. Usually the development of cataracts is gradual with a slow and painless worsening of sight. Other symptoms include blurred or hazy vision, spots before the eyes, double vision, and a marked increase in sensitivity to glare.

Q. How con I be sure I don't have cataracts?
A. An examination by your optometrist will reveal any changes that have occurred in the lens of the eye. Optometrists have special equipment which enables them to see changes in the lens which may lead to cataracts several years before any symptoms appear.

Q. Can cataracts be prevented?
A. There is no proven method of preventing cataracts, However, long-term exposure to ultra-violet light is thought to induce cataracts, so it is recommended that a brimmed hat and approved sunglasses are, worn in sunlight.

Q. When is the best time to have a cataract operation?
A. This varies with each patient. Usually cataract surgery is performed when the patient sees so badly that it interferes with daily life. Your optometrist will assist you in making this decision.

Q. How major an operation is removal of a cataract?
A. Cataract surgery is now considered to be a relatively minor procedure. Often it is performed under a local anaesthetic. Depending on the patient, the surgery may be performed on an out-patient basis. This means that the patient attends a hospital or clinic for the surgery and after resting a few hours, is able to go home the same day.

Q. Does an optometrist perform the surgery?
A. No. The surgery is performed by an ophthal-mologist, a medical doctor who specialises in eye surgery.