WHAT IS IT, DO I HAVE IT?

Look into a mirror or at your neighbors’ eyes. Can you see the white part of the eye (sclera)? Is there any bump or growth towards the nose (nasally) or away from the nose (temporary)? Now look at the image above this post; is there any similarity between it and what you saw? If yes, then you or your neighbor may likely have pinguecula.

WHAT IS PINGUECULA?

It is human nature to worry when something strange develops in the eyes. Pinguecula is a yellowish raised growth on the conjunctiva, a transparent thin layer that covers the white part of the eye known as the sclera. The growth/bump may contain deposits of protein, fat, or calcium and should not be confused with the surfer’s eye (pterygium), which also develops on the conjunctiva and brings us to the question below:

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PINGUECULA AND PTERYGIUM?

Pterygium is a fleshy growth with blood vessels that starts from the sclera (the white outer layer of the eyeball) and enters the cornea (the transparent layer that covers the black part of the eye). However, pinguecula is a raised yellowish growth that forms on the inner side of the white part of the eyes, typically near the nose, although it can appear on another side of the eyes. The main difference is that pinguecula does not overlap with the cornea, while pterygium grows and spreads onto the cornea, although pinguecula can lead to pterygium.

This growth can increase in size over time, making it vital to know how to prevent it as well as what may have caused such strange growth, so stay tuned to our next post. And in the meantime, prioritize your vision with us at TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako, Abuja.

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