Cornea & External Disease

Pterygium & Pinguecula

Pterygia & pingueculae are both benign conditions of the conjunctiva (clear skin covering the white part of the eye). They usually occur in the inner or outer corners of the eye and can become larger over time.

Symptoms

Pterygia & pingueculae can both cause recurrent foreign body sensation, redness, tearing, burning, dryness and irritation. A pterygium can occasionally cause blurry vision if there is significant growth onto the cornea.

Causes

Sun exposure, genetic factors and environmental factors contribute to their occurrence and growth.

Pterygium

A pterygium is a wing-shaped fibrovascular growth that can extend onto the cornea from the inner or outer corner of the eye. It is thought to be caused by sun and UV light exposure, but can be exacerbated by other environmental factors.

Symptoms

When very small, it may not be noticeable, but if it becomes larger, a pterygium can become more cosmetically visible. When quiet and uninflamed, there may be minimal to no symptoms. When inflamed, a pterygium can be much more symptomatic and stimulate growth. Inflammation can be exacerbated by sunlight exposure, wind, dust and dry eye.

Treatment Options

An inflamed pterygium can be treated with artificial tears or certain prescription drops temporarily to quiet the inflammation, but these will not make the growth disappear. If a Pterygium becomes large enough to threaten vision or is a cause of persistent irritation, it can be removed with surgery.

Pinguecula

A pinguecula is a benign whitish or yellowish spot or bump on the conjunctiva in the inner or outer corner of the eye. It can be small or large, flat or elevated, and does not grow onto the cornea.

Symptoms

Usually pingueculae do not have any symptoms but occasionally can cause such symptoms as recurrent redness and irritation.

Treatment Options

Like pterygia, this irritation can be treated with artificial tears or prescription drops, which can quiet the inflammation. Surgical removal is usually not necessary unless a pinguecula becomes persistently irritating despite treatment.

Additional Information

There are other less common types of growth that can occur on the eye that may not be a pterygium or pinguecula. Some of these growths may be serious. If you think you have a growth that has not been diagnosed by an eye doctor, you should make an appointment for proper evaluation and treatment.

For more information, visit:

• AAO.org
• MedlinePlus

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