Question: I would appreciate your opinion on the cause of a pterygium in the eyes. Some say it is glare, others sand or other foreign matter in the eyes. How is this condition caused, and how do you prevent it?
A pterygium is a fleshy overgrowth of the white part of the eye (cornea) that grows across the colored part of the eye (iris). They develop very slowly over many years, but once they are half way across the iris, they should be removed in a simple operation to avoid growth across the pupil and blindness.
Pterygium are very common in Australia, but more so in the north than the south, as they are caused by recurrent mild sunburn to the cornea. The irritated tissue overgrows, and spreads across the eye. Farmers, sailors, drivers, outdoor workers and sports people are most prone to pterygium as glare and sun exposure are the prime cause. The problem can be prevented by wearing good quality (polarized) sun glasses.
A pterygium may become irritated, red and itchy at times. Simple drops available from chemists will ease this problem. Once present they will remain until removed surgically. There are no drops that will make them go away.

Question: My mother is having a vitrectomy. What sort of operation is this?
The eye contains a clear jelly-like substance called the vitreous. If this becomes discolored, the vision in that eye will be remarkably reduced, possibly to the point of blindness.
The most common cause of discoloration of the vitreous is bleeding into the eyeball. This can occur in high blood pressure, diabetes and injury. In the last few years, a very delicate operation has been devised in which the blood-stained vitreous can be removed from the eye and a new artificial substance substituted, allowing normal vision again. It is performed under a general anaesthetic by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) who has had specialist training in this procedure.

Question: My mother has been diagnosed as having mild glaucoma, but all the doctor has done is give her some eye drops. How is glaucoma treated?
Your sight is one of your most valued possessions. Any disease that can reduce your vision, or worse still, make you blind, is of great concern. One such disease is glaucoma.
Glaucoma is an increase in the pressure of the fluid inside the eye. If this pressure becomes too high, the eye can be permanently damaged. It is diagnosed by measuring the pressure inside the eyeball. There are two methods of measuring the eyeball pressure. In the older method, special drops to numb the eye are used, and then an instrument is rested on the eye for a few seconds. A more sophisticated method is to use a machine that puffs air onto the eye for a fraction of a second and measures the amount of air pressure reflected from the eye. Both can give very accurate measurements of the eye pressure. Looking at the outside of the eye at different angles, and examining the back of the eyeball with a magnifying instrument also help make the diagnosis. There are more than 20 different types of glaucoma, with different causes and therefore different treatments. It is a complex area, that once suspected or diagnosed, is best dealt with by an ophthalmologist (specialist eye doctor).
Treatment involves the use of one or more eye drops on a regular basis, every day, usually for the rest of the patient’s life. Some types of glaucoma may also require the taking of tablets. Occasionally the disease settles spontaneously in old age. Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but it can be controlled successfully in nearly all patients, and sometimes it can be cured by surgery. The surgery increases the rate of drainage of fluid from the eye, and may involve the use of lasers to burn microscopic drain holes in the corner of the eye. With modern treatment techniques, the outcome for patients with glaucoma is normally very good, but continued follow-up by a doctor is essential.