Pingueculae

A pinguecula is a yellow bump that appears on the white of the eye. This is an alteration of the normal eye tissue due to the deposit of protein and fat. Pinguecula are often the result of chronic irritation of over-exposure to sunlight. People who spend a great deal of time outdoors (farmers and the like) are much more likely to develop pingueculae than those who typically spend most time indoors. Pinguecula are very common, very rarely resulting in serious harm to vision like loss of vision or blindness.

Treatment usually consists of eye drops intended to provide comfort, but surgery is the only way to remove pingueculae completely. However, recurrence rate is quite high at around 50%, so surgery typically isn’t recommended unless the growth is causing extensive problems (like vision impairment).

Make an appointment at one of our 3 locations if you suspect you may have pingueculae.