What is a Pinguecula?

Pingueculae are growths that occur on the lining covering the white part of the eye. They are not cancerous growths and they usually don’t affect the way people see because they don’t cover or grow over the cornea. Normally, they’re visible as somewhat elevated spots that may be white or yellow, that occur near the eye corners. People may have only one pinguecula, or they could have more than one, and most commonly, they occur in people who are older; they may also occur in younger people who have plenty of sun exposure to the eyes.

Sun exposure does seem to be one of the reasons why a pinguecula would develop. There’s a strong link between these spots developing and sun exposure in the Southern hemisphere. Another group that seems at risk for getting a pinguecula are those who spend a lot of time outdoors, especially outdoor workers. With this in mind, eye protection via good sunglasses, is probably the best means of prevention for most people.

The primary symptoms of a pinguecula are a white or yellow raised spot at the corner of the eye. Depending on the degree to which this elevated, it may cause eye irritation. Dry eye may be especially common, and visible blood vessels (red eye) may appear near the spot.

Treatment can vary but might include lubricating eye drops to help with any dry eye symptoms. Avoiding sun exposure to the eyes is also important. Sometimes people feel that a pinguecula is damaging from a cosmetic viewpoint and ask eye surgeons to remove it. Removal may leave scarring and results aren’t always desirable, but a skilled surgeon may be able to remove a small pinguecula and leave little scarring behind. Unfortunately, these spots have a tendency to recur and this should be taken into consideration before undergoing surgery.

Pingueculae are often confused with pytergia (pytergium is the singular form). This is a growth on the eye that may begin at the conjunctiva but can gradually cross over the cornea. Unlike a pinguecula, a pytergium is a fast growth that can get bigger over time. A pytergium is also more severe because it can obstruct sight when it grows onto the cornea. This growth is usually more noticeable, and may require surgical removal, not for cosmetic purposes but to preserve sight. However, like pinguecula, pytergia development is often attributed to a great deal of exposure to the sun through a lifetime.