Obviously, this is one of (if not the most) the most common questions about pterygium. Pterygium is a growth of fleshy tissue around the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the eye and keeps the surface of your eye moist. This helps protect your eye from dust, debris, and germs.
Pterygium usually forms on the corner of your eye and can extend onto the cornea—the eye’s clear, protective outer layer. When the growth stays within the conjunctiva, it’s called pingueculum. But when it spreads from the conjunctiva to the cornea, it’s known as pterygium.
A pterygium can be of various shapes and colors, such as red, pink, white, gray, yellow, or even colorless. Some pterygium growths can be pretty small, while others can be big enough to cause irritation, blurred vision, and other issues.