Which condition is a growth on the conjunctiva or mucous membrane that covers the sclera?

Which condition is a growth on the conjunctiva or mucous membrane that covers the sclera?

• A. Diabetic Retinopathy
• B. Night Blindness
• C. Pterygium
• D. Eye Emergencies

Answer: (C)

A pterygium is a growth of the bulbar conjunctiva that extends onto the cornea, usually starting on the nasal side. It’s a fibrovascular lesion tied to sun exposure and dryness, and while it may cause irritation, it can-progress to involve the corneal surface, potentially inducing astigmatism or vision changes if it grows far enough. This distinguishes it from pinguecula, which is a similar conjunctival growth that stays on the surface and does not encroach onto the cornea. The other options describe different eye problems—diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, night blindness relates to retinal or vitamin A issues, and “eye emergencies” is a broad category rather than a specific growth. Therefore, the described conjunctival growth that can cover part of the cornea is pterygium.

A pterygium is a growth of the bulbar conjunctiva that extends onto the cornea, usually starting on the nasal side. It’s a fibrovascular lesion tied to sun exposure and dryness, and while it may cause irritation, it can-progress to involve the corneal surface, potentially inducing astigmatism or vision changes if it grows far enough. This distinguishes it from pinguecula, which is a similar conjunctival growth that stays on the surface and does not encroach onto the cornea. The other options describe different eye problems—diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, night blindness relates to retinal or vitamin A issues, and “eye emergencies” is a broad category rather than a specific growth. Therefore, the described conjunctival growth that can cover part of the cornea is pterygium.