What is a growth on the white of the eye?
A pterygium is a growth of the conjunctiva or mucous membrane that covers the white part of your eye over the cornea. The cornea is the clear front covering of the eye. This benign or noncancerous growth is often shaped like a wedge.
Can a pterygium go away?
Often, a pterygium will gradually start to clear up by itself, without any treatment. If so, it may leave a tiny scar on the surface of your eye that’s generally not very noticeable. If it bothers your vision, you can have it removed by an ophthalmologist.
What does pterygium look like?
A pterygium can usually be seen as a fleshy, pink growth on the white of the eye, and may occur in one eye or both. They occur between the eyelids, most often in the corner of the eye, close to the nose, and extend onto the cornea. Many people with a pterygium feel as if there is something in their eye.
How do you stop a pterygium from growing?
To reduce the risk of developing pterygia:
- Use sunglasses that block out UV light (close-fitting, wrap around styles are best)
- Wear sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim when outdoors.
- Avoid exposure to environmental irritants, eg: smoke, dust, wind, and chemical pollutants.
What eye drops are good for pterygium?
You can treat the irritation and redness caused by a pterygium or pinguecula with simple eye drops, such as Systane Plus or Blink lubricants. If you suffer from inflammation, a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops (e.g. Acular, Voltaren Ophtha) may help.
What does Pinguecula look like?
What does a pinguecula look like? A pinguecula is yellowish in color and typically has a triangular shape. It’s a small raised patch that grows close to your cornea. Your cornea is the transparent layer that lies over your pupil and iris.
What is the white part of the eye called?
sclera
The outer layer of the eyeball is a tough, white, opaque membrane called the sclera (the white of the eye). The slight bulge in the sclera at the front of the eye is a clear, thin, dome-shaped tissue called the cornea. The middle layer is the choroid.
