Pinguecula and Pterygium- They are Different

Pinguecula and Pterygium are two different disorders but they are so similar that often people mistake them for each other. Let’s discuss both of them separately to understand both of them deeply. • Pinguecula- It is a thick lesion on the surface of the sclera of the eye in proximity to the borders of the cornea. Sclera supposes to be the white area of the eye. This lesion is usually a bit elevated and appears to be white or yellow in color. This disorder generally originates in the palpebral fissure which is the surface area which divides the upper eyelids from the lower ones. It seems more opaque than conjunctiva and has a somewhat oily appearance. The conjunctiva is a mucous membrane covering the white portion of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid which is generally located toward the nose side rather than the ear side of the eye. • Pterygium- It’s a triangular and a wing shaped lesion which affects the cornea very badly. It’s usually on the nose side of the eye. It can be detected very easily with its raised head which is creamy and opaque and is clearly visible on the cornea. Generally pterygia are not a threatening to the eye sight but in some cases, just a few but it’s still very dangerous, it has caused corneal blindness.rnHowever, both of them are similar in cellular structures. A pinguecula is different from a pterygium as it’s positioned along with the cornea and also the affected tissues are horizontally oriented. But a pinguecula can transform into pterygium when it starts to touch the cornea of the eye. • CausesrnThe causes of both the diseases are not very clear. However, it has been proven that both the disorders are related to continuous and constant exposure to the light spectrum’s blue and ultraviolet bands. This thing is clearly indicative in the fact that these disorders are more probable around the cornea as this part is most exposed to the sunlight than all the other parts of the eyes. The conjunctiva and cornea receive immense cellular damage due to ultraviolet radiations. It happens more when the eyes have insufficient stock of antioxidants glutathione and astaxanthin which are very helpful in fighting the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiations.rnMoreover pinguecula is also related to increasing age. In most of the cases, this disorder hits at the ages of 70 to 80. On the other hand, pterygium is more common with people residing at the latitude of thirty seven degrees south and north of the equator. These areas seem to be receiving more ultraviolet radiations in comparison to others. Some patients receive this disease form their parents. Also the infection of human papilloma virus may be behind this disorder. Besides both the conditions may develop from constant contact with dust, smoke, low humidity etc. • SymptomsrnUsually, pinguecula don’t make the patient to suffer much. In case it’s an inflamed one, you can get a feeling that a foreign body has entered your eye. If your eyes have gone severely dry, then there are chances that it gets inflamed and enlarged.rnWhen it comes to pterygium, it also doesn’t hurt much in most of the cases. But if it grows significantly, it can irritate. It also starts to create a foreign body feeling in the eye. Sometimes, it may pressurize your cornea as well. If you experience any of these disorders, you must select a good eye specialist for the quick cure as soon as possible. It’s an eye related issue after all. There are lots of eye doctors and eye care centers which offer such treatments.