What’s that in my eye…?

Elke Smit

Elke is the owner of Eyestyle Optometrist. Her passion is to promote eye health and eye care but she is even more passionate about the people behind the eyes. The most important factor is good eyesight which gives us the ability to see the beauty in all things around us.

Your eyes are the window to your soul and most spectacle wearers wear their glasses for the better part of the day.

Choosing the appropriate eyewear is not always easy! Eyewear should feel comfortable, and suitable for everyday challenges.

Many people living in countries with a harsh dry climate, such as South Africa, may develop a thin film on the white of the eyes. These films grow from the nasal side towards the centre of the eye where tiny blood vessels can usually be seen that run from the base to the tip of the triangle.

Both a pterygium and a pinguecula are abnormal growths that form on the surface of the eye. They may appear similar, have similar symptoms and causes but they are actually different conditions.

Pterygium:

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. If a pterygium grows large enough to cover your cornea, it can interfere with your vision. Thick or larger pterygium can also cause you to feel like you have a foreign object in your eye. It can also make it more difficult or uncomfortable to wear contact lenses.

Pinguecula:

A pinguecula is very similar to a pterygium, where the two are often confused. However, a pinguecula occurs only on the conjunctiva (white portion of the eye) and will not grow across the cornea.

In some cases, a pinguecula can become a pterygium, that involves the cornea. It usually appears as a creamy-coloured or chalky growth in the corner of the eye and can affect one or both eyes.

Symptoms:

It has very similar symptoms. A pterygium doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, the symptoms are usually mild. The most common symptoms include redness, dry eyes, inflammation and blurred vision. You might also feel a burning sensation or itchiness. If the pterygium extends onto the cornea far enough it can cause blurred vision and obstruct vision.

Just like a pterygium, a pinguecula can also cause irritation, as well as difficulty wearing contact lenses. However, it cannot cross the cornea and will not affect vision.

Causes:

The exact cause isn’t known. One explanation is that too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can lead to these growths. People whose eyes are exposed to certain elements on a regular basis have a higher risk of developing this condition. These elements include pollen, sand and wind and by not wearing sunglasses or a sun hat.

These growths usually occur in people aged 20 to 50, and are more common in men, probably due to an increased likelihood of outdoor work environment.

Treatment:

In many cases pinguecula and pterygium do not need to be treated. If your eyes are uncomfortable or your vision is affected, you may need treatment.

Usually eye drops can relieve any discomfort from pinguecula, and surgery is usually not recommended or needed.

If a pterygium grows large enough to cause problems, your ophthalmologist will probably recommend surgery to remove it.

The best way to keep pinguecula and pterygium from coming back is to avoid dryness, sunlight and dust.

The most important: Keep on those sunglasses and hats!!