Pinguecula and Pterygium are common, non-cancerous growths on the eye. Pinguecula are located on the white part of the eye and are often located at 3 or 9 o’clock adjacent to the clear part. Pinguecula are precursors to pterygium. A pinguecula becomes a pterygium when the growth extends onto the clear part of the eye.

The growths are secondary to excessive cumulative life time ultraviolet light exposure. Chronic ocular surface inflammation from dry eye, allergies, wind and dust can further aggravate the area and cause progression.

Conservative treatment involves sun protection with sunglasses to limit UV exposure in addition to artificial tears and cold compresses for symptomatic relief of eye irritation. These growths are usually not serious and can be safely removed by our experienced eye surgeons. Reasons for seeking surgical management may be unrelenting symptoms of foreign body sensation/ eye irritation, growth into the visual axis, or induced irregular astigmatism limiting best corrected visual potential.