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Pinguecula - External and Internal Eye
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Pinguecula - External and Internal Eye

Contributors: Brandon D. Ayres MD, Christopher Rapuano MD, Harvey A. Brown MD, Sunir J. Garg MD, Lauren Patty Daskivich MD, MSHS
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

A pinguecula is a yellowish, slightly raised, lipid-like deposit in the interpalpebral nasal and temporal limbal conjunctiva. Unlike pterygiums, pingueculae have a space between them and the edge of the cornea. However, they can develop into pterygiums. And like pterygiums, pingueculae can become vascularized, inflamed, and produce punctate staining of the corneal epithelium as well as form corneal dellen. They are frequently bilateral, do not have a sexual or racial predilection, but are seen most often in people who are chronically exposed to the sun. Patients present with either just the finding of the growth or, when inflamed, patients complain of irritation, redness, blurring of vision, itching, difficulty wearing contact lenses, and foreign body feeling. Environmental factors such as wind, dust, noxious chemicals, dirt, air pollution, and allergens can cause inflammation and, if chronic, can lead to pterygium transformation.

Codes

ICD10CM:
H11.159 – Pinguecula, unspecified eye

SNOMEDCT:
87614000 – Pinguecula

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Diagnostic Pearls

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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

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Best Tests

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Management Pearls

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Therapy

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References

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Last Updated:03/10/2015
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Pinguecula - External and Internal Eye
A medical illustration showing key findings of Pinguecula : Bulbar conjunctival plaque
Ophthalmic Imaging image of Pinguecula - imageId=2892787. Click to open in gallery.
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