Ask a doctor: What could a bump on the eye mean?

Q: I have a bump on the white part of my eye. I have not seen a doctor yet. Do you know what this could be?

A: A pingueculum is a yellowish patch or bump on the white of the eye, most often on the side closest to the nose. It is not a tumor but an alteration of normal tissue resulting in a deposit of protein and fat. It does not grow into the cornea. A pingueculum also may be a response to chronic eye irritation or sunlight. No treat-ment is necessary unless it becomes inflamed. A pingue-culum does not grow onto the cornea or threaten sight. If particularly annoying, a pingueculum may on rare occasions be surgically removed, but the post-operative scar may be as cosmetically objectionable as the pingueculum. You need to see your ophthalmologist to get the correct diagnosis.

-- Dr. Deborah DiStefano, DiStefano Regional Eye Center; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society

Readers: To submit a question for medical doctors, email it to Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com. See this space each week for answers.

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