If you notice a white or yellowish lump or bump on the white of the eyes, do not panic. This creepy-looking blob is probably nothing more than the sign of a benign and fairly common eye condition with the unpronounceable name PINGUECULA. They tend to appear off to the side of the eyeball nearest the nose. (When they extend to the surface of the cornea, they are called Pterygia). Pinguecula are actually age spots, and like age spots on the skin, they result from cummulative sun exposure. These slow-growing eyeball bumps are also a telltale of overexposure to wind and dust. But unlike many other sun-related age spots, they usually do not become cancerous. They may, however, become irritated and grow so large they interfere with eyesight or make contact lenses hard to fit.
Even if Pinguecula and Pterygia are removed surgically, they tend to grow back bigger and more quickly than before. Wearing sunglasses with 100 percent ultraviolet ray protection may help prevent or delay their return.
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