Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s girlfriend, Olivia Ponton, has shared a health update with her followers. She revealed that she has been diagnosed with pterygium, also known as “surfer’s eye.”
Ponton shared a selfie on Instagram on Sunday, showing off her new glasses after visiting her optometrist. She said she picked up three new pairs before telling her followers about her eye condition.
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“I have a bit of pterygium aka ‘surfers eye,'” Ponton wrote.
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The condition can sometimes require surgery, depending on how serious it is. However, Ponton said she was not ready for the procedure.
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“I’m not sure if it’s bad enough to get surgery, but I’m going to put it off for as long as I can heheheh,” she added.
Pterygium is a noncancerous growth of tissue that starts on the white part of the eye and can spread to the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. It is often linked to long periods of exposure to sunlight, wind and dust. This is why it is common among people who spend a lot of time outdoors, including surfers and beachgoers.
Ponton has shared her interest in surfing on social media. On May 24, she posted an Instagram video of herself surfing.
“Acquired a new hobby,” she wrote in the caption alongside the hashtag 24.
The model also regularly travels to beaches for photoshoots.
Joe Burrow’s GF Olivia Ponton recently reached new career milestone
Olivia Ponton appeared on the cover of Ocean Drive magazine’s October 2026 issue. The feature looked at her rise on social media and in modeling, as well as how her idea of success has changed.
“Success used to feel very tied to numbers for me: followers, campaigns, how many things I had going on,” Ponton said in the interview. “Now, I think it’s much more about waking up and actually loving the life I’ve created.”
Burrow and Olivia Ponton were last spotted together in August during the Bengals’ training camp.
The two made headlines after they were seen talking following Burrow’s practice session on Aug. 9.
Currently, the Bengals occupy second place in the AFC North division. The Cincinnati Bengals will next play against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9 on Nov. 8.
Edited by Oindrila Chowdhury
