Can I get pingueculum removed surgically?

Q: I am 72 years old. Is surgical removal of pingueculum recommended? I got my pterygium surgically removed one year back, which was in the right eye. Now the pingueculum has been identified in the left side of the left eye.

A:Removal of pingueculum is not usually done as it is only a cosmetic problem unlike pterygium which can affect vision if it encroaches the visual area or if it causes a refractive error: astigmatism. But it can be excised if the patient so desires without much problem as aminor procedure.