maybe you see a small yellow bump on your eyeball. Well, it could be a pinguecula. What is the cause? Is this pinguecula dangerous? What are the symptoms and treatment? So, what do we need to do in an effort to prevent getting pinguecula?
Definition of pinguecula
Medically, a pinguecula is defined as a yellow bump or spot that grows on the conjunctiva of our eye. The conjunctiva itself is the clear covering on the white of the eye.
The pinguecula is usually located on the side of the eye near your nose, but it can also occur on the other side. According to experts, pinguecula may contain deposits of protein, fat, or calcium.
Although not dangerous, pinguecula can cause discomfort to our sense of sight.
The initial size of the pinguecula may be small. In fact, maybe even barely visible. However, over time, it can get bigger.
For some people, the presence of this pinguecula will make them experience irritation. Meanwhile, for others, they may not experience any complaints. Maybe even completely unaware of the existence of this pinguecula.
As mentioned earlier, these pingueculae are not dangerous. In addition, it is also not cancerous.
Pinguecula symptoms
The most common symptom of pinguecula is a small yellowish patch or tiny bump on the conjunctiva of the eye. Other symptoms include red eyes, irritation, itching or swelling, and dry eyes.
Besides that, maybe we experience as if there is sand in the eyes, watery or glassy eyes.
These symptoms can be mild or severe. Pinguecula can occur in one eye or both eyes.
If this pinguecula causes inflammation in the eye, then what happens next is what is known as pingueculitis. In this case, the pinguecula irritates the thin tear film in our eyes, which can lead to dry eye symptoms. In addition, we may feel an itchy or slightly burning sensation in the eye.
One thing to note is the possibility of having pinguecula in both eyes at the same time. This of course can slightly change the appearance of our eyes.
Pinguecula causes
Until now, health experts do not know exactly what is the main root cause of pinguecula. However, most experts agree that pinguecula may be linked to exposure to outdoor irritants over several months or years.
A person may be at risk for pinguecula if they work outdoors or spend a lot of time outside, are exposed to UV light or exposed to a lot of wind and/or dust.
Also read: Various Diseases of the Retina and Their Treatment
It’s possible that some people are at a higher risk of developing pinguecula than others.
Several studies have shown that men are more likely to experience pinguecula than women. The chance of getting a pinguecula generally increases with age. For this reason, pingueculae are more common in middle-aged or older people.
Pinguecula is also more common in people who live in warm, tropical climates, which are near the equator. The reason is, they spend more time outdoors with sun exposure.
However, you may also have an increased risk of pinguecula if you spend a lot of time in snowy areas, because UV rays are reflected off the snow and increase the light exposure to your eyes.