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What Causes Inflammation And White Spots In The Left Eye Caruncle?

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Posted on Mon, 18 Apr 2016
Question: This is a photo of my left eye caruncle. It's inflamed with white spots. Is this normal?
doctor
Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Carunculitis

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for sending your query to us.
Is this caruncle actually infllamed ? Is there pain and swelling as compared to other side ? If yes then the treatment to have is antibiotic eye drops 4 to 5 times and anti inflammatory tablets twice a day.If there is pain then hot foamentation twice a day for 5minutes will also be helpful.
please do get back to me in case of any further queries in this regard.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (10 hours later)
Thank you for your reply. I have just a couple of more questions. I just posted another photo: arrow #1, is a "cottage cheese" appearance normal? Arrow #2, is that white area normal? I've always had trouble with this eye. I have pain "around" the eye, but that could be because i have Sjogrens Syndrome. Thank you for your help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Caranculitis

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
thanks for getting back to us.
This appearance is not normal,normally it should be a pink,smooth structure, but your eyes are not in the normal category, as you have sjogren's syndrome. Since that involves the outer layers of eye the caruncle may also be involved.
The pain in and see eye may be due to pre existing condition.
In a large no.of patients we see very small hairs on the caruncle, this 'cottage cheese'' appearance mya be dormant hair follicles, that was the reason I was insisting on the other eye photograph. As standards of normal may be different in your case.If the other eye has the same appearance and no discomfort then this appearance is to be ignored.
Normally both caruncle are of same size and appearance.To be infllamed this left eye has to be bigger in size as well.Infllamed caruncle has to be red and bigger if not ,going back to your original question, it is not infllamed.
I would be keen to compare the other eye as well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (18 hours later)
Oh goodness, i am very sorry, i misunderstood. Here's a pcture of my other eye. Thank you for your help. i
doctor
Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Hair follicles

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
thanks for getting back to us.
In my practice I see this ,as you have named it wonderfully, cottage cheese appearance, in about 95%of asymptomatic patients.As I explained these are hair follicles and in about 50%or more I see small soft hairs there.
we label it as carunclitis when there is swelling, pain and redness in that area.
Your appearance is absolutely normal and if you examine your family members you will find the same cottage cheese appearance.

Do get back to us in case of any further query in this regard.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. N K Mishra

Ophthalmologist

Practicing since :1977

Answered : 1297 Questions

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What Causes Inflammation And White Spots In The Left Eye Caruncle?

Brief Answer: Carunculitis Detailed Answer: My dear, Thanks for sending your query to us. Is this caruncle actually infllamed ? Is there pain and swelling as compared to other side ? If yes then the treatment to have is antibiotic eye drops 4 to 5 times and anti inflammatory tablets twice a day.If there is pain then hot foamentation twice a day for 5minutes will also be helpful. please do get back to me in case of any further queries in this regard.