Bumps on Eyeball: White Pimple, Clear Bubble, Little, Pictures, Causes, Treatment

There are two main types of bumps that can appear on the eyeball. The first is known as pingueculum and it represents a small bump that appear on the white part of the eye (most commonly on the side that is closest to the nose), being clear or yellow in color. The second type is known as pterygium, which is also a small bump that can appear on the white part of the eyes, having however tiny blood vessels in its formation. The pterygium can extend as far as the cornea, as it grows in size.

Why do I have a Bump on my Eyeball?

Usually, the bumps on eyeball are disturbing for aesthetic reasons, although for some people, it is an important health issue, as it hinders their vision. It is important to understand that the majority of these bumps are never serious. They do not require treatment and they often go away on their own. In the situation that they lead to different symptoms, you should seek out medical treatment.
Symptoms of bump on eyeball
Symptoms of bumps on the eyeball may vary depending on the causes. Individuals react or respond to different causes of this condition depending on one’s immune system and natural habitat. These symptoms should always be noted and seek medical advice to avoid the permanent loose of vision in some cases.

  • A painful feeling of the eye
  • Itchy eyeball that feels irritated all the time
  • A burning or stinging sensation on the affected eye
  • Blurry vision or impaired vision may be experienced
  • Emergence of visible several tiny blood vessels on the conjunctiva
  • The eye may feel irritated like it has a foreign body in it all the time
  • Bloodshot or redness of the eye ball due to the visible blood vessels
  • A swollen or inflamed bump on the eyeball
  • Sore eyes that feel itchy and may be watery in some cases
  • Little bump on eyeball ma have lots of Red veins around it
  • In some cases, white bump on eye ball comes and goes and should be kept in check
  • The eye may tend to be unusually sensitive to light
  • In some cases, eye discharge may be experienced depending on the cause
  • Redness of the eye conjunctiva

Bumps on Eyeball Causes

Areas of the eyeball that may develop a bump, pimple or spot are; next to iris, Conjunctivas, Sclera or A growth on the eyeball when ignored may spread and cover the outer clear layer of the eye that is also known as the cornea. This may easily impair someone’s site or vision.
However, it is not well known exactly what causes the conditions commonly attributed to bumps on eyeball but scientists and doctors have linked some of the below factors to the causes of white bumps on the eyeball. These may include the following:
Pterygium
This could be the culprit for that perceived white bumps on eyeball. Also referred to as the surfer’s eye for its tendency to affect surfers, pterygium is a common eye problem that affect people who spend lots of time outdoors.
According to some researches revealed, the condition is mostly perceived as an area of raised white bumps with blood vessels. This is sometimes accompanied by itching, a burning sensation, and feeling as though you have foreign bodies in the eye, and in more severe cases, blurred vision.
Surfer’s eye occurs when a benign growth forms on the conjunctiva (the clear thin mucous membrane covering the white part the eye called sclera). The pimple is usually triangular-shaped and tends to grow from the nasal side of the sclera, sometimes extending all the way to the cornea.
The bumps on eyeball is usually slightly raised and contains visible blood vessels and although rarely, the bump can continue to grow as to eventually cover the pupil of the eye. When that happens, vision may be affected. This condition can either affect one or both of your eyes. When both eyes are affected, the condition is normally referred to as bilateral pterygium.

Risk of developing pterygium

The exact cause of this condition is not known, but most experts believe that;

  • Too much exposure to ultraviolet rays heightens the risk of developing this condition.
  • Dry skin and environmental irritants such as wind, dust, smoke and pollen are also believed to be risk factors.
  • The condition occurs more often in people who spend too much time outdoors such as farmers, fishermen, welders etc.
  • People who live near the equator are especially prone to pterygium since the sun strikes the earth there at almost 90 degrees leading to higher intensity UV radiation.
  • According research findings, pterygium tends to occur more in people aged between 20 and 40 years and appears to affect men more commonly that women. The Health Line website also lists light eyes and light skin as risk factor for the condition.

Pingueculum or pinguecula
It is characterized by a small raised white bump that may be clearly visible in severe cases. In most cases it is not painful but it looks like a white deposit on the cornea and is visible.
Pterygium is easily confused with pingueculum which is also non-cancerous growth of the conjunctiva. As a matter of fact, pingueculum is often a precursor for pterygium, but unlike pterygium, pingueculum is notable for the yellow color of the bump.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been linked to bumps on eyeball too. It is thought that this causes damage to the transparent collagen fibers in the conjunctiva (the clear membrane that covers the white of the eye – sclera), triggering their calcification or a change in color. The damaged fibers are what then manifests as a bump.
Environmental irritants
Other environmental irritants such as sand, dust and wind are also thought to be factors in the formation of eyeball bumps. People who are more exposed to these elements are more likely to develop eyeball pimples. These include workers who spend most of their time outdoors. People who engage in outdoor activities like golfing, gardening etc. may also be at higher risk.
Corneal ulcer
Cornea is the tissue layer that covers the front part of the eyeball. It is normally covered with tears and through the cornea, light enters to the eye. An infection may cause an open sore on the cornea and this result into corneal ulcer, which may be seen as a white spot on the cornea is a major sign of it.
Injury on the eye
An injury or trauma inflicted directly on the eyeball may cause a bump on eye ball that may be white or bloodshot. Caries like welding are commonly known to cause bump on the eyeball especially if one does not like wearing protective glasses.
Surfing
Pterygium as we have discussed it above is also known as the surfer’s eye. This is due to the fact that most doctors have noted that many surfers are prone to having bump on their eyeball.
Contacts
Wearing contact lenses for too long can cause infections that may results into spots on the eye eyeball or the cornea. Contacts should be kept clean and be replaced frequently to avoid any eye erosions or injuries. It has also been noted that acanthmoeba keratitis is common among contact users.
Sun
Prolonged exposure to sunlight may cause dry eyes. Irritation and sore on the eyes due to dry cornea may result into eye infections that may cause bumps on the eyeball.
Eye floaters
They are also a major concern when talking about white bumps on eyeball. According to research finding, eye floaters are tiny spots or flecks (cobweb-like) that drift aimlessly around the field of your vision. These appear when tiny pieces of eye’s gel like vitreous detach from the inner part of the eye.
Eye floaters are basically characterized by grey or black dots on eyeball and it is best to have them checked by a doctor.

White Pimple on Eyeball

White bump on eyeball may occur in children or adults depending on the causes. In some cases, it may be accompanied by a lump or growth on eyeball that may cover the cornea.
Bumps on the white part of the eye might be so small only a cosmetic annoyance or they can be so large that they hinder your vision. Most bumps are harmless and will grow and shrink over time, but sometimes these bumps signal a more serious medical condition.
The white part of your eye (sclera) has tiny pink blood vessels running across it, but it does not generally have bumps on it. If you see small, light-yellow colored bumps, you’re most likely seeing pinguecula. These pinguecula bumps may look like pimples, and most often appear on the nasal side of the eye. However, they can appear anywhere on the sclera.
Pinguecula can lead to pterygia, which are wedge-shaped or wing-shaped growths of benign fibrous tissue with blood vessels, typically located on the surface of the sclera. Pterygia may cause vision problems. Pinguecula is one of many symptoms of type 1 Gaucher’s disease, which is caused by excessive levels of harmful fatty substances in your liver, spleen, lungs, bone marrow or your brain.
Gaucher’s disease may cause organ enlargement and bone pain. If you experience fatigue, bruising, nosebleeds, bone pain or fractures with the bumps on your eye, you should contact your doctor; because these are signs of type 1 Gaucher’s disease.

Clear Bumps on Eyeball

The eye is a vital organ. Apart from the fact that it is the organ that helps us visualize things, it is also prominently placed on our faces. This makes it quite conspicuous such that, anything on it becomes visible to other people. As a result, something such as a clear bubble on eye can cause anguish on its bearer.
Clear bumps on eyeball simply are pimple which is filled by eye fluid. After an injury or trauma occurs to an eye, you may realize a fluid filled sack forming on the ball. Here, we explore what the causes of bubble in eye and under eye could be including gas and clear bubble.
An eye bubble tends to be a growth which appears on the cornea. The causes of bubble on eye are not known but they tend to increase with age. They are very common in persons who spend huge amounts of time outdoors without wearing eye sun protection.
The small clear bump on eyeball is normally tiny and painless. They manifest in the form of small clumps of tiny clear lesions. They can cause you temporary vision changes and occur anywhere on the eye, the cornea included.
Large clear bump on the inside eye
With larger eye bumps, there may be a gritty feeling that comes with inflammation, a sore feeling and redness. These may be accompanied with a dryness of the eyes. With the pinguecula, you could also experience tiny yellow bumps. These may appear like pimples appearing mostly on the eye’s nasal side. This means that they are mostly found on the inner parts of either the left or right eye. They can however appear anywhere on sclera of the eye.
To relieve discomfort in mild cases, eye drops can be used. When the condition is moderate, medicated drops can be used. In case it takes too long to heal, surgical excision of the bumps on eyeball may be necessary although this only happens in rare cases where healing has been delayed and vision has been extensively affected.

Bump on Eyeball Pictures

Having some pictures showing a bump on the eyeball with which to compare your problem is below picture courtesy. They show a patient suffering from pterygium. Notice how the growth has spread from the area of the eyeball that is closest to the nose all the way to the cornea something you would delight in. On that note, here are some of the pictures that will help you know your condition.

Little White Bump on Eyeball lots of Red Veins around it

A little white bump that normally appears on the eye ball is a pinguecula. It is a very common type of conjunctival degeneration which looks like a raised yellow/white deposit on the white of your eye nearest the nose.it is not usually painful, but it can be uncomfortable. If so, it’s best to use lubricating eye drops to help, and possibly antihistamine eye drops as the allergy may cause more irritation.
Pinguecula rarely need any treatment but can be removed or helped with steroid eye drops, which you need to see an eye specialist. If it’s painful, you have an eye infection like conjunctivitis or the pinguecula itself may be infected and need medication.

Bump on Eyeball under Eyelid

Blisters or bumps on eyeball that forms on the eyelid signifies allergic conjunctivitis, a condition in which the eyes react to irritants such as pollen, dust and dander, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. The condition is not contagious but can cause significant discomfort.
Allergic conjunctivitis can also occur when the eyes are exposed to strong chemicals such as dyes and fragrances. Symptoms can also develop in individuals with sensitivities to eye drops or contact lens solution. Additional symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include watering eyes, itching eyes and eye puffiness. The eyes may also burn and appear inflamed.

Bumps on Eyeball Treatment

The treatment is required only for the bumps on the eyeballs that are causing symptoms. Otherwise, you have no reason to get treated, as this is not a dangerous condition. In general, both the irritation and the redness can be reduced by using artificial tears. They are available in any pharmacy and they can be bought without a prescription.
The doctor might also recommend anti-inflammatory medication, in order to provide the necessary pain relief and reduce the inflammation. Corticosteroids are administered only as a short-treatment solution, as they can have negative effects over one’s health. Vasoconstrictor drops might also be recommended for occasional usage.
If you are experiencing vision problems due to the growth invading the cornea, you may require surgical intervention for its removal. It is also possible that the bump re-appears after the surgical intervention, requiring a second surgery. In general, the surgical intervention is recommended in the following cases: when other non-invasive measures have failed, if the patient is at risk of losing his/her eyesight and if there is a cosmetic concern about the appearance of the eyes.

Remedies and treatment of white bump on eyeball

It is strongly recommended that you avoid using home remedies before consulting a qualified doctor due to the delicate nature of the eyes. All forms of m1edication should be prescribed by a qualified doctor after a proper diagnosis.
Sunglasses
An optician should be consulted in order to get the right sunglasses to help in avoiding further irritation while treating or nursing a bump on eyelid. This will also help in keeping dust and foreign materials from entering the already delicate eye.
Contact lenses
If you have to use contacts, make sure they are sterilized to avoid any further infections. Avoid using contacts overnight by simply removing them before bed. In case you are using disposable contacts, never extend the stated period as this may only lead to further complications.
Treating corneal ulcer
Eye doctor prescribe antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral eye medication. If the infection is bad, your doctor may put you on antibacterial eye drops while they test the ulcer scrapings to find out the cause of the infection. You may also use corticosteroid eye drops where the eye is inflamed and swollen
Treatment of Pterygium
Now that you know that Pterygium could be the culprit for that pesky white bump on eyeball, what treatment and self-care measures can you undertake to get rid of the problem?
Although treatment is usually not necessary except for cases that cause you significant discomfort or interfere with your vision, the WebMD website recommends having an ophthalmologist check your eyes if you have any symptoms of the pterygium.
If the condition is causing you irritation and/or redness, or blurring your vision, your doctor may administer some of the following treatment options:

  • Lubricating eye drops
  • Vasoconstrictor eye drops
  • Corticosteroid eye drops – Applied over short time span to reduce inflammation
  • Surgical removal of the pterygium bump

Treatment of pingueculum
As with pingueculum, treatment of pingueculum may involve a prescription of lubricating and corticosteroid eye drops to relieve the inflammation and reduce dryness and redness. Surgical removal may also be considered for cases that interfere with your vision. Your best course of action is to see your doctor or an ophthalmologist.
Vitamins and supplements
These are part of nutritional diets that may be prescribed by a doctor to help in fast healing. In cases of eye floaters, vitamin and supplements treatment is known to have a positive healing effect and reduce the visibility of the eye floaters significantly.
Vitamin A, Vitamin E, food rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Bilberry extract, and muscle meat which is rich in taurine are some of the essential vitamins that will help clear and dissolve eye floaters.
While treating or nursing white bump on eyeball, avoid the following;
Most doctors and opticians will advise against doing any of the following to facilitate a smooth healing process or to keep the infection or condition from spreading.

  • Stop or avoid using contact lenses until you are totally healed
  • Avoid using make ups on the eye
  • Using any other forms of medication
  • Avoid any irritants on the eyes or touching the eyes with dirty hands
  • Keep away from activities like in the cases of practicing how to make your eyes red

Prevention

If you are working outdoors, it might be for the best to protect your eyes with sunglasses or even use special goggles. The sunglasses have to be worn even when it is cloudy outside, as you need protection against the ultraviolet rays. You may choose sunglasses that have a high SPF and also wear them during driving, as the reflection of the sun through the windshield can be quite damaging.
Wearing a protective hat, with a wide brim, is also a good idea, in order to protect you from the sun or wind. Artificial tears are also recommended as a preventative measure – they can maintain the protective film on the eye conjunctiva, reducing the changes of irritating or toxic substances penetrating into the eye.
More references

  1. Bump on eyeball: http://healthh.com/bump-on-eyeball/
  2. Bumps on the white part of the eye: http://www.livestrong.com/article/316251-bumps-on-the-white-part-of-the-eye/
  3. What causes a bubble to form on the white part of the eye: https://www.reference.com/health/causes-bubble-form-white-eye-5879ac868c93059e#