In severe cases, this inflammation leads to perforation of the eyeball and loss of the eye. Scleritis must be treated, usually with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. If the person has rheumatoid arthritis or doesn't respond to corticosteroids, drugs that suppress the immune system, such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine, may be needed. A pinguecula, a raised yellowish-white growth next to the cornea, is unsightly but generally doesn't cause any serious problem and needn't be removed. A pterygium, a fleshy growth of the conjunctiva into the cornea, may spread across the cornea and distort its shape, possibly causing astigmatism and other visual changes.
Pterygium is more common in hot, dry climates.
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