What is a Pinguecula?

A pinguecula is a small, raised, white- or yellow-colored growth that is limited to the conjunctiva; it can occur on the inner or outer side of the eye. A pinguecula may contain deposits of protein, fat or calcium.


How do you get rid of a pinguecula in your eye?

How is pinguecula treated?
  1. Recommend over-the-counter eye ointments or prescription lubricating (wetting) drops or artificial tears.
  2. Prescribe a short course of steroid eye drops or eye ointments to reduce eye redness and swelling.


Does pinguecula in eye go away?

A pinguecula is a yellowish raised growth on the conjunctiva typically adjacent to the border where the colored part of the eye meets the white part of the eye. They usually appear on the side closer to the nose, are present in both eyes and are relatively permanent.


What does pinguecula look like?

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What can pinguecula lead to?

A pinguecula may contain deposits of protein, fat or calcium. For most people it does not affect vision, but in severe cases, it can interfere with the way the tears cover the eye, causing dryness, redness and inflammation.


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How long will pinguecula last?

How long does pinguecula last? Because it can't heal on its own, a pinguecula will last until it is treated. Eye drops or ointment will resolve a pinguecula in two to four weeks, depending on the severity of the growth. If surgery is needed, full recovery will take up to a month.

What is the best eye drops for pinguecula?

You can treat the irritation and redness caused by a pterygium or pinguecula with simple eye drops, such as Systane Plus or Blink lubricants. If you suffer from inflammation, a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops (e.g. Acular, Voltaren Ophtha) may help.

Can pinguecula be cancerous?

A pingueculum is a yellowish patch on the white (sclera) of the eye. Found between the eyelids, it is most often on the nasal side (closest to the nose), but can be found on the temporal (closest to the ear) side. Pingueculum are not cancer.


Is a pinguecula a tumor?

The pterygium and pinguecula are growths or tumors in the cornea (the transparent front window of the eye) and the conjunctiva (the thin transparent membrane covering the sclera or part of the eye). These tumors are non-cancerous and quite common.

How does a pinguecula form?

A pinguecula is caused by changes in your conjunctiva tissue. These changes have been linked to irritation caused by sun exposure, dust, and wind, and are more common as we age. These bumps or growths may contain a combination of protein, fat, or calcium, or a combination of the three.

What drops treat pinguecula?

A pinguecula is a benign condition and therefore requires no treatment unless the eye becomes inflamed into pingueculitis. Over the counter artificial tears are used as needed for dry eyes and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or corticosteroid eye drops may be prescribed for pingueculitis.


Can pinguecula spread?

Pinguecula or pterygium can't be transmitted from one person to another. Since both of these conditions result from excessive eye irritation or trauma, the chances of them spreading to another person are non-existent.

How much does it cost to remove pinguecula?

Medication (eye drops) are used for 2 - 4 weeks after the procedure, with frequent eye doctor visits to check the eye pressure and healing. The cost for pinguecula surgery is about $1200 per eye.

Does alcohol cause pinguecula?

Pinguecula is far more common than pterygium. Alcohol consumption is strongly associated with pinguecula. Fluorescein staining is highly prevalent in subjects with pterygium. Both disorders increase with age and are associated with outer activity.


Can dry eyes cause pinguecula?

A pinguecula is thought to be caused by a combination of dry eyes and exposure to wind, dust, or ultraviolet light from the sun. Since surfers are continually exposed to these conditions, a pinguecula is sometimes known as surfer's eye.

Can you reverse a pinguecula?

Pinguecula Treatment Options

If the pinguecula is small enough, it may reverse and clear up with proper attention and treatment. But, first, you need to be faithful about using sun protection to prevent any further development of the pinguecula and the development of new growths on either eye.

Can an optometrist diagnose pinguecula?

The optometrist will examine the pinguecula carefully, distinguishing it from other small spots and cysts that sometimes appear on the eye surface in this position. Once the diagnosis is made, the patient will be advised to limit UV exposure by wearing a hat and sunglasses when it is sunny.


Are you awake for pinguecula surgery?

During the operation, your surgeon will give you numbing eye drops. You might receive a mild sedative if you feel nervous because you will be awake during pterygium removal. This helps to shorten the recovery and healing timeline since you do not go under general anesthesia.

Is pinguecula surgery successful?

Conclusion. Surgical excision of pinguecula and conjunctival autograft using fibrin glue is an effective and safe method to improve symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

What's the difference between pinguecula and pterygium?

A pinguecula is a raised yellowish white growth next to, but not overlapping, the cornea. This growth can be unsightly, but it typically does not cause any significant problems and does not need to be removed. A pterygium is a fleshy growth of the conjunctiva that spreads across onto the cornea.


Do you have to stay in hospital after laser eye surgery?

You won't be at the hospital for more than two hours

The day of laser eye surgery involves you coming into hospital for no more than two hours.

Does diabetes cause pinguecula?

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age and diabetes were associated with an increased prevalence of nasal or temporal pinguecula (all P < 0.05).

Which alcohol is good for eyes?

This research demonstrates that the natural compounds found in red wine will help protect your eyes from cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and other damaging conditions.


Can drinking alcohol everyday affect your eyes?

Other effects of drinking alcohol regularly can result in dry eyes and eyelid twitching, known as myokymia. This triggers short-term inflammation and double vision that causes burning and itching of the eyes, migraines, and sensitivity to light.

Can pinguecula be cancerous?

A pinguecula is a fairly common, non-cancerous growth that forms on the conjunctiva, or white tissue near the cornea. It is a yellowish patch or bump, and typically forms on the inner side of the eye, near the nose. A pinguecula is caused by changes in your conjunctiva tissue.