HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury

Pterygium & pinguecula

Pīkaru kino

Pterygium (tur-ij-ee-um) and pinguecula (ping-wek-yoo-la) are common growths on the front of an eye.

Both happen on the clear covering over the white of your eye (the conjunctiva), and usually on the side closest to your nose.

Pterygium

A pterygium is a growth of pink fleshy tissue. It usually starts close to your nose and grows slowly towards the centre. Often there are no other symptoms, but a pterygium can irritate your eye and cause redness.

If a pterygium grows onto your cornea (which is the layer in front of your iris and pupil), it can cause astigmatism and blurry vision.

You can treat the irritation caused by a pterygium by using lubricating eye drops, and sometimes anti-inflammatory eye drops, which you can get from your optometrist or general practice team. If it's affecting your vision, or if the appearance worries you, you can have surgery to remove it.

Usually, you'll have to get this done privately but if it's severe, it may be publicly funded. Talk to your general practice team or optometrist about your options.

Pinguecula

A pinguecula is a white or creamy colour and doesn't grow across your cornea. It can cause irritation, redness, discomfort and dryness.

You can also treat a pinguecula with lubricating eye drops or anti-inflammatory drops, which you can get from your optometrist or general practice team.

It's very rare to have a pinguecula surgically removed, but this can happen if it's very uncomfortable or you're worried about how it looks.

Usually, you'll have to get this done privately but if it's severe, it may be publicly funded. Talk to your general practice team or optometrist about your options.

Preventing pterygium and pinguecula

Both these conditions are more common in people who are work in dusty environments or outdoors a lot and exposed to UV (ultraviolet) light.

The best way to avoid getting them is to protect your eyes when you're outdoors in the sun – wear a hat with a brim, and wrap-around sunglasses that block UV light so it cannot reach your eyes.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• American Academy of Ophthalmology – What Is a pinguecula and a pterygium?

  Information about pinguecula and pterygium.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2023.

Sources

Page reference: 117804

Review key: HIPTP-117804