Pterygium Removal in Walnut Creek
Removing a pterygium with a conjunctival autograft — the technique that keeps it from coming back.
A pterygium is a wedge-shaped growth of tissue that spreads from the white of the eye onto the cornea, caused by years of ultraviolet light, wind, and dust exposure. It can cause redness, irritation, astigmatism, and — if it reaches the center of the cornea — blurred vision. Removal is a short outpatient procedure at Aspen Surgery Center. Dr. Feiz uses a conjunctival autograft technique, transplanting a small piece of your own tissue over the bare area, which substantially reduces the chance of recurrence compared with simple excision.
When to have it removed
- It is growing toward the center of the cornea
- It is inducing astigmatism and blurring your vision
- Chronic redness, burning, or a foreign-body sensation that drops do not settle
- It restricts eye movement or interferes with contact lens wear
- The appearance bothers you
If none of these apply, watching it is a perfectly reasonable plan. Sunglasses with good UV protection and lubricating drops slow progression and relieve symptoms.
Why the graft matters
The single most important question to ask about pterygium surgery is what goes over the bare sclera afterward. Removing the growth and leaving the area bare is quick — and recurrence rates after that approach are high, with the regrowth often more aggressive and harder to treat than the original. Covering the area with a conjunctival autograft taken from beneath your own upper eyelid brings recurrence down to a small fraction of that. It adds time to the operation and requires more careful technique, and it is worth both. Depending on the eye, Dr. Feiz secures the graft with tissue glue, fine sutures, or a combination of both.
What to expect
- Surgery — outpatient, roughly 30–45 minutes, under local anesthesia with sedation at Aspen Surgery Center.
- First week — the eye is red, scratchy, and sensitive to light. Drops and, if needed, oral pain medication. It typically looks worse around day three than on day one.
- Weeks 2–4 — comfort returns, and you resume normal activity. Redness continues to fade.
- Months 1–3 — the graft settles and the white of the eye returns to a normal appearance.
Afterward, UV protection genuinely matters. Wearing wraparound sunglasses outdoors is the single most effective thing you can do to keep a pterygium from returning, and to protect the other eye.
Have a pterygium evaluatedCall 925-705-7299
Frequently asked questions
What causes a pterygium?
Chronic exposure to ultraviolet light, wind, and dust. It is common in people who spend years outdoors — construction, landscaping, farming, boating, cycling, and surfing — which is why it is sometimes called surfer's eye.
Does it need to be removed?
Not always. A small, quiet pterygium that is not growing and not affecting vision can simply be watched, with sunglasses and lubricating drops. Removal is recommended when it grows toward the visual axis, induces astigmatism, causes persistent redness and irritation, restricts eye movement, or bothers you cosmetically.
Will it come back?
That depends entirely on technique. Simple excision has a high recurrence rate. Dr. Feiz uses a conjunctival autograft — a small piece of your own tissue moved to cover the bare area — which reduces recurrence dramatically compared with excision alone.
What is recovery like?
The eye is red and scratchy for one to two weeks and often looks worse before it looks better. Most people take a few days off work. Drops continue for several weeks, and the redness fades over one to three months.
Is it covered by insurance?
Generally yes when it is affecting vision or causing symptoms. Removal purely for appearance may not be covered — we verify your benefits before scheduling.