The pinguecula is a small, raised, yellowish cystic formation on the conjunctiva, appearing as a protrusion, the size of which is comparable to that of a small lens.
Its location (in the white of the eye near the inner corner of the eye) often worries patients who notice it unexpectedly even though it has often been developing for a longer time.
The pinguecula consists of connective tissue and a combination of epithelial cells without fatty tissue.
It is sometimes promoted by certain factors such as wind, dust or prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.
In adults, these lesions are extremely common and not serious, provided that they do not develop into an inflammation called pinguèculitis.
– Its treatment is done with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory eye drops and the patient must be reassured while warning him that it will be difficult to get rid of it permanently.
– Sometimes progressive, it grows over time and may require surgical excision with scissors, often for aesthetic purposes under local anesthesia.
– We can also treat pinguecula with laser, a procedure that we perform at the Paris Ouest Vision Laser Center.
The pinguécula should not be confused with the pterygium:
Pterygium is a thickening of the conjunctiva in the shape of a triangle whose base is located towards the outside of the eye and whose apex goes towards the cornea, gradually invading it.
The pinguecula resembles the pterygium but the pterygium encroaches on the surface of the cornea, whereas the pinguecula is observed in the white of the eye without invading the cornea.
Pterygium is a thickening of the conjunctiva (membrane lining the front of the eye and the inner part of the eyelids) forming a sort of fleshy, vascularized button in the shape of a triangle whose base is located towards the outside of the eye and whose apex points towards the cornea, gradually invading it.
This membranous thickening of the conjunctiva would be encouraged by prolonged exposure to the sun, wind and also to all bad weather. This is probably why pterygium is particularly observed in tropical countries.
Evolution :
The thrusts are more or less close together.
Despite treatment, this pathology is likely to reappear in approximately 35 to 50% of cases within a variable period of time (1 month to several years).
Usually there is no impairment of vision.
If the cornea is invaded, astigmatism will appear, resulting in a blurred image.
If it worsens, that is, if the pterygium invades the eye even more and moves closer to the visual axis, it can cause a reduction in visual acuity.
During periodic examinations, the ophthalmologist will monitor the development of the pterygium and prescribe antiseptic and anti-inflammatory eye drops based on cortisone or not.
Surgery is necessary if the pterygium invades the cornea.
This is done under local or general anesthesia, using different methods:
– Simple ablation accompanied by a suture,
– Removal followed by a graft of mucosa from the conjunctiva or mouth,
– Ablation with corneal graft requiring hospitalization for several days.
