'Is it possible for a pinguecula to have precipitated so quickly?'
yes
'Could this be some sort of inflammation?'
yes. could also be a cyst, or a phlytenule, or other things. pretty much only way to tell exactly what it is is to have your optometrist (or an ophthalmologist) look at it.
'...and poked my sclera quite hard with my fingernail. Could this be some sort of inflammation from that?'
yes, thats possible as well. none of those are particularly disconcerting to me, but if it doesnt resolve on its own in a few days it needs to be examined.
Thank you for the quick reply!
Your suggestion of a phlyctenule seems highly likely. Last year my eye doctor said I had blepharitis with staphylococcus present, and it might be exacerbating any allergies or vice versa. He told me to do lid scrubs frequently, and use erythromycin or bacitracin every night. I tried to keep up with that, but eventually fell behind. According to my research, phlyctenules occur with infections like staphylococcus, which would explain why that eye has been waking up with an unusual amount of discharge. I saw a page that indicated a typical symptom of phlyctenules being "...surrounded by a hyperemic response, in the vicinity of the inferior limbus." Am I correct to interpret that to mean red blood vessels a few millimeters below the cornea?
Given the excessive mindless stimulation by my hands (which I've now gone to extremes to prevent), the ongoing blepharitis with staphylococcus, and the recent poke, I'm inclined to believe this is indeed a conjunctival phlyctenule.
My eye doctor is booked for weeks, as are all the others around here. Until then, I will resume lid scrubs, and apply bacitracin. Hopefully it might subside by then.
-TM
"Am I correct to interpret that to mean red blood vessels a few millimeters below the cornea"
yes