Pinguecula

Overview

A common benign yellow-white conjunctival degeneration adjacent to the limbus, usually nasal or temporal in the interpalpebral zone. It remains on the conjunctiva and does not grow onto the cornea; that distinction separates it from pterygium. Most cases need reassurance, UV/wind/dust protection, and lubrication. Inflamed pinguecula (pingueculitis) may cause localised redness and irritation. The safety task is to recognise atypical, raised, leukoplakic, pigmented, vascular, rapidly changing, painful, or cornea-involving lesions and route them away from the benign pinguecula pathway.