Spring has returned to Johannesburg, and with it the long, bright afternoons that draw families back onto sports fields, patios, hiking trails and the open road. The practice of Dr. T Fletcher in Bryanston is using the change of season to raise a point that tends to be forgotten once the winter coats are packed away, which is that eyes need sun protection just as skin does, and that the ultraviolet light arriving with the warmer months plays a role in several of the eye conditions seen most often in South Africa.
September is a natural moment to make that point. Highveld skies clear, outdoor hours climb sharply, and the habits formed now tend to carry through the whole summer. Ultraviolet exposure is cumulative rather than dramatic, which is exactly what makes it easy to ignore. There is no sunburn on the surface of the eye to serve as a warning, so the effect of years of unprotected sunlight only becomes visible much later, in changes to the lens and to the surface of the eye that a specialist can identify during an examination.
Why Ultraviolet Light Matters to the Eye
South Africa sits in a part of the world where sunlight is strong and the outdoor season is long. That geography shapes the pattern of eye conditions that ophthalmologists see in local practice, and it is why sun protection is treated as an everyday health measure rather than a holiday concern. The practice website lists ultraviolet radiation among the recognised risk factors for cataracts, alongside age, family history, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, alcohol, certain medications, eye inflammation or trauma, previous eye surgery and high myopia. Ultraviolet exposure also sits at the top of the risk list for pterygium, a growth on the surface of the eye that is more common in sunny climates and closer to the equator.
None of this means that time outdoors should be avoided. It means that the same care given to sunscreen, hats and shade should extend to the eyes, and that a pair of sunglasses is better understood as protective equipment than as an accessory. The guidance set out on the practice website is specific on this point, describing sunglasses that block out one hundred percent of ultraviolet rays. Darkness of the lens tint is not the measure that matters. A dark lens without ultraviolet filtration allows the pupil to open wider in comfort, which is the opposite of what is wanted.
Pterygium and the Outdoor Season
Pterygium is one of the clearest illustrations of how sunlight, wind and dust interact with the surface of the eye over time. The practice describes it as a noncancerous lesion that usually grows slowly throughout life, with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, dry eye, and irritants such as dust and wind listed among the causes. It often appears in adults between twenty and forty, which places it squarely among people at the busiest stage of working and family life, when eye symptoms are most easily set aside.
The symptoms noted on the site include burning, a gritty feeling, itching, the sensation of a foreign body in the eye, and blurred vision. Some cases present mainly as redness and inflammation without much else. Where the growth extends onto the cornea it can distort the shape of that surface, producing astigmatism and the visual disturbance that comes with it. Management may involve lubricants or steroid containing drops to relieve symptoms, while surgical removal is considered where the growth progresses and does not respond to medication. Spring is a sensible time to have persistent redness or irritation assessed rather than treated indefinitely with over-the-counter drops, because the pattern of symptoms is what points towards the underlying cause.
Cataracts, Glare and the Longer View
Cataracts are described on the practice website as the leading cause of visual loss. They form in the natural lens of the eye behind the iris and pupil, and they reduce vision while often producing glare either during the day or at night. That glare is the symptom people tend to notice first as the days lengthen, whether it is a windscreen that suddenly seems harder to see through in late afternoon light, or headlights that scatter more than they used to on the drive home.
The site sets out the recognised types, including nuclear sclerosis in the centre of the lens, cortical cataracts that form at the periphery in a spoke-like pattern, and posterior subcapsular cataracts at the back surface of the lens. It also covers what is understood about prevention, pointing to foods high in antioxidants such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zeaxanthin from vegetables, and vitamins E and C, together with proper ultraviolet protection. Where surgery is indicated, the practice describes cataract surgery as a minor procedure and the most common elective procedure, involving the removal of the cloudy lens and its replacement with an intraocular lens.
A Practice Built Around Specialised Care
Dr. Taryn Fletcher is an ophthalmic surgeon whose practice specialises in microincision cataract surgery, glaucoma and medical retinal disease, with aesthetic work also offered. The conditions covered on the practice website include cataracts, flashes and floaters, pterygium, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, which together account for a large share of the reasons adults are referred to an ophthalmologist in Johannesburg.
Her training began with a Bachelor degree of Medicine and Surgery from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2005. She worked as a medical officer at St John Eye in 2008, graduated as an ophthalmologist in 2013, served as an honorary consultant at Helen Joseph Hospital, and spent time in private practice as a locum before opening her own practice in 2014. She holds membership of the South African Medical Association, the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa, the European Glaucoma Society and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Practical Steps for the Months Ahead
The measures that make a difference through spring and summer are unremarkable, which is part of why they are skipped. Wear sunglasses that carry full ultraviolet protection, and wear them in the car as well as on the field. Add a wide brimmed hat, which reduces the light reaching the eye from above and from the side. Give children the same protection adults get, since outdoor hours in childhood contribute to lifetime exposure. Keep the eyes lubricated in dry, windy Highveld conditions. Take note of new glare, changes in night vision, persistent redness, or a gritty sensation that does not settle, and have those assessed rather than waiting for them to worsen.
Booking an examination when nothing feels urgent is also the point at which a specialist has the most to work with. Glaucoma in particular tends to develop without early symptoms, which is why an eye examination looks beyond the reason a patient walked in. Choosing an opthalmologist for that assessment means the examination is carried out by a doctor trained in both the medical and the surgical management of eye disease.
Readers can find full details of the conditions treated and the services offered on the Dr. T Fletcher website at https://drtfletcher.co.za/.
About Dr. T Fletcher
Dr. T Fletcher is an ophthalmology practice based in Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa, led by ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Taryn Fletcher. The practice specialises in microincision cataract surgery, glaucoma and medical retinal disease, and also offers aesthetic ophthalmology. Conditions covered include cataracts, flashes and floaters, pterygium, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Dr. Fletcher qualified in medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2005, graduated as an ophthalmologist in 2013, and established her Bryanston practice in 2014. She is a member of the South African Medical Association, the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa, the European Glaucoma Society and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
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Dr. T Fletcher
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +27 11 463 2958
Website: https://drtfletcher.co.za/
