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Chronic actinic keratopathy--a condition associated with conjunctival elastosis (pingueculae) and typified by characteristic extracellular concretions.

Morphologic observations on a peculiar type of corneal reaction with a predisposition for the superficial stroma of the interpalpebral portion of the cornea are reviewed. Histochemical evidence is provided which indicates that the corneal concretions, though not homogenous, are proteinaceous in nature and contain amino acids not normally detectable in the cornea. The corneal concretions were associated with conjunctival elastosis (pingueculae) in all 22 instances in which the eyes were sectioned in the horizontal plane. Identical concretions were identified within these associated pingueculae, as well as in a large percentage of other pingueculae and cutaneous lesions with actinic elastosis. The findings suggest that the abnormal material arises in the pericorneal conjunctival connective tissue from whence it diffuses into, and deposits in, the superficial corneal stroma. The data also raise the possibility that the concretions may be derived, at least in part, from altered elastic tissue. Morphologic and epidemiologic observations on the condition taken together strongly suggest that this unique reaction is a sequel to the cumulative effect of chronic actinic irradiation. Further observations on this keratopathy are needed to establish whether this unique response can be provoked by other noxious stimuli.

Adult↗

Treatment of inflamed pterygium and pinguecula with topical indomethacin 0.1% solution.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of topical indomethacin 0.1% on signs and symptoms in inflamed pterygium and pinguecula. METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive patients who had inflamed pterygium (n = 32) or pinguecula (n = 19) were studied in a randomized, double-masked, controlled way. Objective signs (conjunctival congestion, redness, edema, and staining of cornea) and subjective complaints (photophobia, pain, foreign-body sensation, discomfort, and tearing) were evaluated and scored. In addition, we evaluated total signs, total symptoms, and total score. Group 1 (n = 25) received topical indomethacin 0.1% solution and group 2 (n = 26) received a placebo six times daily for 3 days, then four times daily for 11 days. Patients were examined before and at days 3, 7, and 14 after the treatment began. RESULTS: In group 1 at day 3, the scores of total signs, total symptoms, and total score decreased (p = 0.001), and they further decreased after 14 days (p = 0.02 to p = 0.05). In group 2 at day 3 these parameters also significantly decreased (p = 0.01 to p = 0.02), but no further improvement occurred after 14 days. Comparing groups 1 and 2 revealed a decrease in scores in group 1 for total signs, total symptoms, and total score at days 3, 7, and 14 (p = 0.03 to p = 0.002) except for total signs after 14 days (p = NS). All the patients reported mild stinging for < 1 min after administration of the drops. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that topical indomethacin solution 0.1% is a useful treatment for inflamed pterygium and pinguecula.

Administration, Topical↗

Pingueculae and pterygia.

Pingueculae and pterygia are benign peribulbar lesions composed of degenerated basophilic subepithelial tissue. Pingueculae do not affect vision, and minor irritation can usually be managed with artificial tears. Pterygia may affect the visual axis and require surgical and adjunctive treatment. The various therapeutic strategies are reviewed. A conservative approach is advocated, as surgical removal of primary pterygia may result in recurrent ptergyia that are more difficult to manage than the primary lesions.

Conjunctival Diseases↗

Elastodysplasia and elastodystrophy as the pathologic bases of ocular pterygia and pinguecula.

Specimens of normal conjunctiva from three adult patients were examined by electron microscopy, which revealed normal elastogenesis in the substantia propria, but more prominently, in the episcleral tissues. Ultrastructural examination of eight pterygia and three pinguecula also disclosed evidence of elastogenesis, but in these lesions the morphogenetic sequence of fiber formation was distorted, and the elastic fibers were abnormal. The zone of hyalinization of the substantia propria immediately beneath the epithelium was the only site that manifested clear-cut evidence of collagen degeneration, which assumed the forms of effacement of the longitudinal periodicity of the collagen fibers, and of microfibrillar unfurling of the ends of the collagen fibers. Fibroblastic activity and elastic fiber formation were inconspicuous in this region. Beneath the hyalinized zone were collections of eosinophilic granular material. This material was shown ultrastructurally to be composed of excessive numbers of hollow-centered microfibrils (an elastic fiber precursor), with a tendency to clump centrally in the larger aggregated sheets and to acquire electron-dense inclusions. Numerous fibroblasts were found within this material. Finally, the elastotic fibers of light microscopy represented an abnormal maturational phase of elastic fiber production. These abnormal elastic fibers had microfibrils at their peripheries, but numerous electron-dense inclusions were associated with focal zones of amorphous elastin deposition. Occasionally histiocytes appeared to be engulfing these abnormal fibers. We have concluded that a large component of pinguecula and pterygia is the result of newly synthesized elastic fiber precursors and abnormal maturational forms of elastic fibers (elastodysplasia) that undergo secondary degeneration (elastodystrophy). These structures are presumed to be elaborated by actinically damaged fibroblasts of the substantia propria.

Adult↗

[Pinguecula and pterygium: histologic and electron microscopic study (author's transl)].

Two pingueculae combined with pterygia were studied by light and electron microscopy. Hyaline degeneration of the collagen, dark staining granular, von Kossa negative concretions and elastotic material were observed in both conditions together with marked changes in the fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes and the basement membrane of conjunctival capillaries and small veins. The elastotic material is similar to that observed in solar elastosis, where the collagen fibers are less severely damaged. Chronic sun exposure of the pericorneal conjunctiva may damage endothelial cells primarily and disturb vascular exchanges. This would result in accelerated degeneration and regeneration of endothelial cells, in thickening of the basement membrane and, secondarily, disturbed metabolism of fibroblasts with alterations of the collagen and elastic fibers.

Adult↗

Management of contact lens patients with pingueculae or pterygia.

Diplomates in the Contact Lens Section of the American Academy of Optometry were surveyed to determine how they managed contact lens patients with pingueculae or pterygia. Responses indicated that many patients with these conditions can be successful contact lens wearers. Specific management techniques used by these practitioners are reported.

Conjunctival Diseases↗

Spheroid degeneration, pinguecula, and pterygium among Arabs in the Red Sea territory, Jordan.

Report of an examination of 127 Arabs in the Red Sea City of Aqaba, Jordan. The results are compared with those of the author's examinations, using a similar apparatus, of 659 Eskimos in Western Greenland and 810 Caucasians in Copenhagen. Ultraviolet (u.v.) light is at a maximum in the Red Sea territory, considerable in Greenland, and negligible in Copenhagen. The prevalences of the following degenerative processes are high at the Red Sea, somewhat lower in Greenland, and low in Copenhagen: Climato-keratopathy gr. III (across the cornea, often with autofluorescent spheroids, always with conjunctival location as well), conjunctival spheroids (39%), and pinguecula (90% at the Red Sea). The prevalence of the conjunctival spheroid degeneration greatly exceeds that of the corneal. No difference is demonstrable between tropical and arctic keratopathy. The investigations performed gave results bearing out the view that u.v. light is responsible for all the above degenerative processes. Pterygium is equally frequent at the Red Sea and in Greenland. Lipid deposits (6%) and scleral plaques are not more prevalent at the Red Sea, a fact which argues against an ultraviolet genesis.

Adolescent↗

Spheroid degeneration, keratopathy, pinguecula, and pterygium in Japan (Kyoto).

The prevalences of various possibly sunlight-induced degenerations of the exposed section of the eye have been studied in a series of 189 Japanese (Mongols) in Kyoto (subtropical climate, 35 degrees N. lat.). The results were compared with those of the author's examinations, using the same method and apparatus, in Jordan near the Red Sea (Arabs, N = 127) in Greenland (Eskimos, N = 659), and in Denmark (Caucasians, N = 810). In the Japanese series conjunctival spheroid degeneration was noticed in 31% and pinguecula in 60%, i.e. less frequently than in the sunny Jordan, but more frequently than in Greenland and Denmark. Climatokeratopathy was more rarely observed than in Greenland. This goes to show that the risk of corneal complications is lower in Japan despite the high prevalence of solar conjunctival degenerations. Pterygium was seen in a surprisingly small number of cases (1%), indicating that pterygium bears no relation to the conjunctival degenerations.

Adolescent↗

Long-term changes in the outer part of the eye in welders. Prevalence of spheroid degeneration, pinguecula, pterygium, and corneal cicatrices.

Biomicroscopical examination of possible cumulative changes in the outer part of the eye in 217 male welders with variable welding exposure time showed conjunctival spheroid degeneration in 24% of the welders. The prevalence of changes was significantly increased in welders with the higher exposure time in an age-matched reduced material (98 x 2 eyes; respectively, over and under 40 h.y (number of daily hours of welding multiplied by number of years of welding), welders with stays abroad over one year being withdrawn. The prevalence was also increased in the latter group (41%, N = 40, against 21%, N = 177). Pinguecula was present in 57% of the welders, with a tendency towards larger area with increasing welding exposure. The frequency was increased as compared with that in a control material examined on a previous occasion (41%). Pterygium proper was found in only one subject, pseudopterygium in 5%. Corneal cicatrices were present in about one half of the subjects. The prevalence increased with increasing welding exposure (24% in subjects with short, 42% in those with long exposure; 98 x 2 eyes). Acute welding light keratopathy was experienced by 73%. The mean number of attacks in the 217 welders was 6.4. The frequency was highest in subjects with long welding exposure. The risk of chronic impairment of sight owing to cumulative welding light injuries is very little in the present material, since only 2% had spheroid degeneration on the cornea (only discrete, peripherally located); there was no preponderance of pterygium. On the other hand, the many foreign bodies on the cornea (cicatrices) constitute a risk that apparently does not decrease with increasing welding experience nor repeated attacks of welding light keratopathy.

Adolescent↗

Pinguecula and Sjögren's syndrome: two cases.

A pinguecula is a small, raised conjunctival nodule at the temporal or nasal limbus classically associated with conjunctival microtrauma from exposure to sunlight and/or to dust. We report two cases occurring during the course of Sjögren's syndrome. To our knowledge this association has never been described.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

[Inflammation of an ectopic pinguecula].

An 80-year-old male patient experienced recently diagnosed swelling of the limbal conjunctiva. In his clinical history were found cataract surgery on the right eye 3 months before, chronic open angle glaucoma effectively treated by local eye drops, treated systemic hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. On ophthalmic examination, a conjunctival mass was present in the inferior lateral conjunctival quadrant next to the limbus, with numerous vessels visible at its top. Treatment with topical corticosteroids failed to obtain regression, but decreased the local inflammatory signs. The persistence of the mass led to its surgical excision under local anesthesia. Histopathology found a subepithelial accumulation of modified collagen bundles typical of elastotic degeneration. Capillary vessels were seen in the superficial subepithelial area, attesting to the high degree of vascularization observed clinically. The final diagnosis was a pinguecula, which was not exactly located on the horizontal meridian area as it is usual.

Aged↗

Ligneous conjunctivitis after pingueculae removal in an adult.

A 45-year-old man who had uneventful excision of bilateral pingueculae developed bilateral membranous lesions involving the bulbar conjunctivae and corneas. Histologically, the membranes were composed mainly of large fibrinous deposits intermixed with acute and chronic inflammatory cells with areas of fibroblastic and capillary proliferation resembling granulation tissue. By electronmicroscopy the amorphous acidophilic masses were composed of electron-dense, fibrillar material with a periodicity of 10-12 mm, which was consistent with fibrin. Despite mechanical removal of the membranes, they continued to recur rapidly over a period of several months. The lesions apparently responded slowly to topical enzymatic therapy that consisted of hyaluronidase (175 U/ml) and alpha-chymotrypsin (1:5000) drops. Follow-up examination, approximately 1 year after surgery, revealed that the patient was asymptomatic. Ocular examination disclosed slight persistence of gelatinous membranes on the bulbar conjunctivae, most prominent in the left eye.

Adipose Tissue↗

The pinguecula.

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Conjunctiva↗