Pinguecula vs Pterygium - What is the Difference?

Signs and Symptoms

1. A small, yellow bump or patch on the conjunctiva
2. Dry eyes
3. Red, itchy, irritated, or swollen eyes
4. Teary eyes
5. Feeling like you have a foreign object (sand or grit) in the eye

A pterygium usually does not cause any symptoms or may cause the following mild symptoms in the early stage:

1. Raised pink growth on the eye
2. Dry, itchy, or burning eyes
3. Red, irritated, or swollen eyes
4. Teary eyes
5. Feeling like you have a foreign object (sand or grit) in the eye
6. Contact lens discomfort

Late signs and symptoms include:

1. Increase in the size of the lesion
2. Blurred or double vision (when pterygium progresses onto the cornea)
3. The unpleasant appearance of the eye

A change in the conjunctiva causes pinguecula. This change may result from:

1. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light
2. Frequent exposure to wind and dust
3. Increasing age

The exact cause is unknown. However, the possible explanation includes the following:

1. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light
2. Frequent exposure to dust, wind, sand, pollen, or smoke

Parameter

Physical eye exam: The doctor uses a microscope (slit lamp) to focus a bright light on the eye to look at the front and inside of the eye.

1. Physical eye exam: The doctor uses a microscope (slit lamp) to focus a bright light on the eye to look at the front and inside of the eye. 
2. Visual acuity test: The test checks your vision clarity by reading letters on a chart 20 feet away. 
3. Corneal topography: The test measures your cornea's curvature changes using a 3D map of the cornea's surface. 
4. Photo documentation: The procedure involves taking pictures of the eye to track pterygium growth over time. 

You may not need pinguecula eye treatment if you do not experience eye discomfort. If it causes discomfort, the doctor may prescribe:

1. Over-the-counter eye ointments, artificial tears, or prescription lubricating drops
2. A short course of eye ointments or steroid eye drops to relieve redness and irritation
3. If the pinguecula becomes too uncomfortable, close to your iris, or affects your vision, you may need the following:
4. Surgery to remove pinguecula
5. Argon laser photocoagulation: an alternative to surgery that uses a high-power laser to remove thicker pinguecula or a low-power laser to remove thinner pinguecula

You will not need treatment if pterygium does not cause discomfort or interfere with your vision. If it does cause discomfort, the doctor may prescribe:

1. Over-the-counter eye ointments, artificial tears, prescription lubricating drops, or decongestant drops
2. Eye ointments, or steroid eye drops to relieve redness, pain, itching, or inflammation
3. Pterygium excision surgery is required when eye drops or ointments do not relieve symptoms or when pterygium causes vision loss or blurry vision

Pinguecula rarely cause any complications. When they do, complications can include:

1. It can develop into a pterygium
2. Corneal Dellen: cornea can dry out and lead to corneal thinning
3. Chronic actinic keratopathy: symmetric corneal dystrophy

If a pterygium is left untreated, the growth can extend across the pupil, leading to

1. Astigmatism: an imperfection in the curvature that can cause blurred vision
2. Corneal scarring: which occur in rare cases.