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Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Sudden pinguecula?
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Sudden pinguecula?
by TheMatrix, May 22, 2007 12:00AM
Hello-
For the past year I've been having eye problems, and sought the help of a local eye doctor last summer. My symptoms included waking up with sticky discharge in my eyes (as if I had conjunctivitis) and a persistent stringy mucus present in both eyes throughout the day. My doctor said it allergy related, and prescribed Patanol. I've had good and bad days since then, but about a week ago I started to get a foreign body sensation in my left eye. Being used to that sort of discomfort by now, I dismissed it. Then yesterday I happened to glance in the mirror at an odd angle and noticed a translucent yellow bump on my conjunctiva over the sclera. Upon closer inspection I see the bump is right at the corner of my eye (opposite the nasal side) with a thin trail up a few millimeters. I thought it was just the usual mucus, and tried to move it with a swab, but it's firmly affixed to the conjunctiva.
What I'd like to know is what this could be besides a pinguecula. Using google's image search and "pinguecula" as a keyword, the results look exactly like what I have. Is it possible for a pinguecula to have precipitated so quickly? Could this be some sort of inflammation? I'd also like to note that a while ago (maybe two weeks or more) I was trying to clear the usual mucusy discharge while not paying much attention, and poked my sclera quite hard with my fingernail. Could this be some sort of inflammation from that? It's the same location.
-TM
For the past year I've been having eye problems, and sought the help of a local eye doctor last summer. My symptoms included waking up with sticky discharge in my eyes (as if I had conjunctivitis) and a persistent stringy mucus present in both eyes throughout the day. My doctor said it allergy related, and prescribed Patanol. I've had good and bad days since then, but about a week ago I started to get a foreign body sensation in my left eye. Being used to that sort of discomfort by now, I dismissed it. Then yesterday I happened to glance in the mirror at an odd angle and noticed a translucent yellow bump on my conjunctiva over the sclera. Upon closer inspection I see the bump is right at the corner of my eye (opposite the nasal side) with a thin trail up a few millimeters. I thought it was just the usual mucus, and tried to move it with a swab, but it's firmly affixed to the conjunctiva.
What I'd like to know is what this could be besides a pinguecula. Using google's image search and "pinguecula" as a keyword, the results look exactly like what I have. Is it possible for a pinguecula to have precipitated so quickly? Could this be some sort of inflammation? I'd also like to note that a while ago (maybe two weeks or more) I was trying to clear the usual mucusy discharge while not paying much attention, and poked my sclera quite hard with my fingernail. Could this be some sort of inflammation from that? It's the same location.
-TM
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, May 22, 2007 12:00AM
'Is it possible for a pinguecula to have precipitated so quickly?'
yes
'Could this be some sort of inflammation?'
yes. could also be a cyst, or a phlytenule, or other things. pretty much only way to tell exactly what it is is to have your optometrist (or an ophthalmologist) look at it.
'...and poked my sclera quite hard with my fingernail. Could this be some sort of inflammation from that?'
yes, thats possible as well. none of those are particularly disconcerting to me, but if it doesnt resolve on its own in a few days it needs to be examined.
yes
'Could this be some sort of inflammation?'
yes. could also be a cyst, or a phlytenule, or other things. pretty much only way to tell exactly what it is is to have your optometrist (or an ophthalmologist) look at it.
'...and poked my sclera quite hard with my fingernail. Could this be some sort of inflammation from that?'
yes, thats possible as well. none of those are particularly disconcerting to me, but if it doesnt resolve on its own in a few days it needs to be examined.
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Your suggestion of a phlyctenule seems highly likely. Last year my eye doctor said I had blepharitis with staphylococcus present, and it might be exacerbating any allergies or vice versa. He told me to do lid scrubs frequently, and use erythromycin or bacitracin every night. I tried to keep up with that, but eventually fell behind. According to my research, phlyctenules occur with infections like staphylococcus, which would explain why that eye has been waking up with an unusual amount of discharge. I saw a page that indicated a typical symptom of phlyctenules being "...surrounded by a hyperemic response, in the vicinity of the inferior limbus." Am I correct to interpret that to mean red blood vessels a few millimeters below the cornea?
Given the excessive mindless stimulation by my hands (which I've now gone to extremes to prevent), the ongoing blepharitis with staphylococcus, and the recent poke, I'm inclined to believe this is indeed a conjunctival phlyctenule.
My eye doctor is booked for weeks, as are all the others around here. Until then, I will resume lid scrubs, and apply bacitracin. Hopefully it might subside by then.
-TM
yes