This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Pinguecula

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

A pinguecula is a fairly common degenerative nodule of the conjunctiva. It is yellow and is composed of hyaline and elastic tissue. More commonly, they arise on the nasal side of the cornea but both sides may be affected. It may be associated with exposure to wind and dust.

The pinguecula is usually asymptomatic.

  • some pinguecula may cause mild irritation - this generally can be successfully treated with ocular lubricants
  • pingueculitis may occur when there is significant inflammation - this responds to topical steroid treatment

Pingueculae do not threaten sight and so should be distinguished from pterygia.

Note that pterygia and pingueculae are both benign growths on the surface of the eye - the only distinguishing difference is that pterygia grow over the edge of the cornea

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.