pinguecula

Epidemiology

• most prevalent in tropical climates
• correlates with UV exposure

Pathology

• degeneration of the collagen fibers of the conjunctival stroma with thinning of the overlying epithelium & occasional calcification

Clinical manifestations

• yellow-white raised lesion on the conjunctiva adjacent to the junction between the cornea & sclera
• will not extend over the cornea
• generally asymptomatic

Differential diagnosis

• distinguished from pterygium, a wedge shaped area of fibrosis that appears to grow into the cornea

More general terms

• abnormal morphologic structure (malformation)
• conjunctival disease

Additional terms

• pingueculitis