How to treat a Pinguecula
How to treat a Pinguecula
How to treat a Pinguecula
Pinguecula is some kind of eye lesion - and so is pterygium. The two diseases resemble each other so much they are often mistaken for one another.
A pinguecula (plural, pingueculae) is a thickening along parts of the sclera (the white area) of the eye near its borders with the cornea. The lesion is elevated slightly and appears whitish to yellowish. The pinguecula commonly starts in the palpebral fissure (the surface area dividing the upper and lower eyelids). The lump appears more opaque than healthy conjunctiva (the mucous membrane coating the inner eyelid surface and the white of the eye), has a oily appearance, and has greater chances of being located closer to the nose rather than the outer corner of the eye.
Pterygium (plural, pterygia) is a triangular, wing-like formation that actually grows on the cornea, generally close to the nose and in the space continuous with the conjunctiva. It can be observed by its head - an elevated, creamy, opaque tissue on the cornea. Though frequently not vision-threatening, severe pterygium can inflict corneal blindness.
They diseases are similar in cellular/tissue structures. A pinguecula is differentiated from a pterygium by its position relative to the cornea and the horizontal orientation of its damaged tissues. However, a pinguecula can be considered a pterygium if it invades the cornea.
Causes
The causes of pinguecula and pterygium are not clearly established. There is sound evidence, however, that both diseases are strongly associated with chronic, long-term exposure to the blue and ultraviolet bands of the light spectrum. It is not coincidental that they are often found around the meridian of the cornea, which is the part most bared to sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation burns cells in the cornea and conjunctiva, especially when levels of the protective antioxidants glutathione and astaxanthin are depleted.
Pinguecula is also associated with increasing age. Pingueculae have grown in most eyes by age 70 and in nearly all eyes by age 80. This is probably due to progressive degeneration of the conjunctiva, as a result of aging, a history of inflammations, chronic irritation, and dryness of the eyes.
Pterygium has been closely associated with patients living at latitudes of 37 degrees north and south of the equator - which seems to bolster the linkage with UV-light exposure. Genetic factors have also been proposed. Infection with the human papilloma virus has also been proposed as a cause.
Like pinguecula, pterygium is thought to originate from susceptibility to dust, low humidity (which can lead to rapid tear evaporation and dry eyes), and tiny scratches from particles in the air such as smoke and sand. Dry eye symptoms may also factors that confound the diagnosis.
Though pterygium is often understood as a recurring degenerative disorder, some of its behavioural features point to a abnormal growth disorder - rather like some benign tumours. After surgical removal, pterygia have revealed a strong and aggressive tendency to regenerate.
Symptoms
Pingueculae normally do not cause trouble . You may sense a foreign body sensation from an inflamed pinguecula. Extremely dry air quality and other environmental factors can cause inflammation and swelling.
You ordinarily will not perceive any manifestations from pterygium. But enlarged and irritated pterygia may cause foreign body sensation and some cosmetic concerns about how your eyes appear. Enlarged or more well-developed pterygia, however, can cause astigmatism as the growth puts pressure on your cornea.
Treatment
Swelling in the pinguecula (known as pingueculitis) responds well to application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or, if dictated, topical corticosteroids. The accompanying dry eye symptoms can be treated with eye drops. When going outdoors, it will be prudent if you to cover your eyes from sunlight with an effective set of sunglasses. It is rarely necessary to intervene with pinguecula surgically.
A small but inflamed pterygium may be addressed by topical corticosteroids to reduce the swelling. Dryness in the eye may be relieved with prescription eye drops.
Large pterygia may need surgical excision. The surgical procedure is easy, but removing the possibility of return is difficult. Due to its vigorous tendency to recur, your doctor's treatment scheme may mimic anticancer strategies, such as wide surgical removal to uproot all possible pterygium-affected tissues, beta-radiation radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with mitomycin C, an anticancer compound.
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