Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An abnormal mass of tissue arising from the conjunctiva of the inner corner of the eye that obstructs vision by growing over the cornea.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun An instrument employed in the operation for the removal of a pterygium from the cornea.
- noun A forward growth of the eponychium over the nail-plate.
- noun In zoology and anatomy, a limb or member of one of the vertebrates, as a fish, in the most general sense, without reference to its specialization in any given instance.
- noun In pathology, a more or less triangular patch of hypertrophied conjunctiva and subconjunctival tissue with its apex at the edge of the cornea or upon the cornea.
- noun In entomology, one of the two lateral expansions at the end of the rostrum of certain weevils. They lie above and partly conceal the scrobes or grooves in which the antennæ are concealed.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Med.) A superficial growth of vascular tissue radiating in a fanlike manner from the cornea over the surface of the eye.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun medicine An abnormal mass of
tissue in the corner of theeye that obstructsvision
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun either of two thickened triangular layers of conjunctiva extending from the nasal edge of the eye to the cornea; it arises from irritation of the pinguecula
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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If the pterygium starts to grow over the cornea, it can blur or obstruct vision and may need to be removed.
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If the pterygium starts to grow over the cornea, it can blur or obstruct vision and may need to be removed.
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Sun exposure has also been linked to an abnormal growth on the corner of the eye near the nose called a pterygium.
Dr. Rock Positano: Sunglasses Are More Than A Fashion Statement 2008
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Other potential eye health problems related to UV exposure include pterygium – a growth on the white of the eye, which encroaches onto the cornea and can obscure your vision.
Do YOU thoughtlessly risk your children’s eyesight? Here's how you can find out and what you can do to prevent it. Thatsnews 2008
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Other potential eye health problems related to UV exposure include pterygium – a growth on the white of the eye, which encroaches onto the cornea and can obscure your vision.
Archive 2008-08-01 Thatsnews 2008
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An opthamologist explains that “cataracts and pterygium are common in Costa Rica, in part because of the strong sun.”
You go, Hugo, and take your goody-goody goodie bags with you 2008
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Yes, besides eye cataracts, pterygium and pinguecula caused by the light of fluorescent bulbs.
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Unfortunately, after surgery a pterygium often grows back again.
Chapter 23 1993
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Dark glasses may help calm irritation and slow the growth of a pterygium.
Chapter 23 1993
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Connected with diseases of the eye, pterygium is common; not only single, but double, triple, and even quadruple are occasionally met with.
Samoa, A Hundred Years Ago And Long Before George Turner
chained_bear commented on the word pterygium
In anatomy:
a. A diseased condition of the conjunctiva of the eye
b. A growth of the epidermis over the nails
In botany:
Term applied to petals and other appendages when shaped like wings
February 3, 2007