To investigate the clinical features of pingueculae in North-western Gyeonggi Province.

In this prospective study, we determined the clinical features of pingueculae for 120 patients who visited our hospital due to pinguecula-related symptoms between October 2011 and May 2012.

Among the 374 pingueculae of 120 patients, 208 (56%) pingueculae were found on the nasal side of the conjunctiva and 166 (44%) on the temporal side. The grade of the pingueculae on the temporal conjunctiva was 0.81 ± 0.626 and was 1.18 ± 0.648 on the nasal conjunctiva, which was higher ( p < 0.001). Pingueculae on the nasal conjunctiva showed greater elevation than on the temporal side ( p < 0.001). The horizontal and average diameters of the pingueculae on the nasal and temporal conjunctiva showed no significant difference, but the vertical diameters were 2.40 ± 0.88 mm and 2.14 ± 0.91 mm, respectively, showing the vertical diameter on the nasal conjunctiva was significantly greater ( p < 0.044). Moreover, the horizontal diameter of each pinguecula was greater than the vertical diameter ( p < 0.003).

The average grade of pingueculae in North-western Gyeonggi Province increased with age. Compared to the temporal pingueculae, the nasal pingueculae were more protrudent in shape and had higher grades. Furthermore, each pinguecula was oval-shaped with a larger horizontal than vertical diameter. The pingueculae on the temporal side were flatter and more oval-shaped.