NV Eye Surgery — Pterygium Removal Surgery
Pterygium Surgery
in Henderson & Las Vegas
A pterygium is a non-cancerous growth of skin across the eye that develops after years of sun exposure. When it starts covering the cornea or simply looks and feels wrong, it can be removed.
- Amniotic membrane and conjunctival autograft techniques
- Roughly 5% recurrence, meaning a low chance of a second surgery
- Self-pay patients usually save around $500 versus other local surgeons
Is This Right for You?
Am I a Candidate for Pterygium Removal Surgery?
There are two common reasons to consider pterygium surgery, and only one of them is about vision.
The first reason is the growth reaching the cornea. When a pterygium becomes large enough to cover the cornea or change its shape, vision starts to blur, and removal can both improve vision and prevent further deterioration. The second reason is irritation that has become genuinely annoying, or redness with a real cosmetic impact on the appearance of your eye. Both are legitimate. Because a pterygium is potentially sight-threatening, removal is usually considered medically necessary when you have symptoms.
The Procedure
What Is a Pterygium?
A pterygium is a non-cancerous growth of skin over the eye that develops as a response to years of sun exposure. Ultraviolet rays damage the small cells and drive abnormal growth. The name comes from the Greek word for wing, because of the wing shape the growth takes, and it is also known as surfer’s eye or carnocidad in Spanish. A mild pterygium may only cause redness. As it grows across the cornea it can blur vision and change the corneal shape. Surgery removes the scarred skin from the eye and covers the defect to promote healing.
Medical Management First
Steroid drops and lubricants can manage the symptoms of a mild pterygium without surgery. Surgical removal is recommended for larger growths spreading across the cornea.
Removing the Growth
The scarred skin is removed from the surface of the eye. You are given relaxing medicine beforehand and the surgical site is numbed, so the procedure itself is not painful.
Covering the Defect
Either healthy tissue from your own eye, called a conjunctival autograft, or an amniotic membrane graft is used to cover the area and promote healing.
Two Surgical Settings
Medically insured patients have their procedure at the surgery center. Self-pay patients can use our in-office surgical suite, which is what produces the savings.
Patient Reviews
Treatment Options
Drops, Autograft, or Amniotic Membrane?
A mild pterygium and one growing across the cornea call for completely different responses. Where surgery is warranted, the question becomes what covers the defect afterward, because that choice drives the recurrence rate and the cosmetic result.
Steroid Drops and Lubricants
Managing symptoms without surgery
- Can manage the symptoms of a mild pterygium effectively
- No procedure and no recovery period
- Appropriate when the growth is not approaching the cornea
- Manages symptoms without removing the growth
- Not sufficient once the pterygium starts covering the cornea
- Does not address the cosmetic appearance of the eye
For Mild Cases
Conjunctival Autograft
Healthy tissue from your eye covers the defect
- Uses healthy tissue from your own eye, so there is no donor material
- Low recurrence risk and excellent cosmetic outcomes
- A well-established technique with a long track record
- Covers the defect to promote proper healing
- Requires harvesting tissue from another area of the eye surface
- Recurrence is still possible, at roughly 5% overall
Your Own Tissue
Amniotic Membrane Graft
A membrane graft covers the surgical site
- No tissue needs to be taken from elsewhere on your eye
- Low recurrence risk and excellent cosmetic outcomes
- Useful when the affected area is extensive
- Promotes healing across the surgical defect
- Uses graft material rather than your own tissue
Graft Material
With both amniotic membrane and conjunctival autografts available here, the risk of recurrence is low and cosmetic outcomes are excellent. Which graft suits your eye is decided at your evaluation.
Step by Step
Your Pterygium Removal Surgery Journey
The surgery is short. The healing timeline is what patients most need explained in advance, because a red eye for three weeks is normal and alarming at the same time.
1
Evaluation
- Examination of the growth and how far it extends onto the cornea
- Assessment of whether vision or corneal shape is affected
- Discussion of medical management for milder cases
- Insurance coverage or self-pay pricing confirmed
- Graft technique selected for your eye
2
Surgery Day
- Relaxing medicine given before the procedure
- The surgical site is numbed, so the procedure is not painful
- The scarred skin is removed from the eye
- An amniotic membrane or conjunctival autograft covers the defect
- Medications started to prevent infection and reduce inflammation
3
First Week
- Scratchy discomfort for about three days
- Eye rest for at least three days helps the graft take
- The eye will be red, which is a superficial hemorrhage
- Most patients return to work after about five days
- Scratchy irritation generally lasts a week or two
4
Full Healing
- Redness lasts about three weeks and resolves without issues
- The eye stays pink for another six to ten weeks
- It becomes white about three months after surgery
- Post-operative visits continue for three months
- Intraocular pressure is monitored during medication use
What to Expect
Expected Pterygium Removal Surgery Outcomes & Recovery
The eye looks worse before it looks better, and knowing the schedule turns an alarming three weeks into an expected one.
What Patients Can Expect in the First 30 Days
- Scratchy discomfort is strongest for about three days, and mild irritation can last a week or two
- Rest the eye for at least three days to help the graft take
- The eye will be red for around three weeks, a superficial hemorrhage that resolves on its own
- It stays pink another six to ten weeks before turning white at about three months
- Medications are used to prevent infection and reduce inflammation
- Most patients return to work after roughly five days
Informed Care
Safety & Risk Considerations
Pterygium surgery is a surface procedure and the major risk is recurrence rather than anything that threatens the eye. With both graft techniques available, that recurrence risk is low and cosmetic outcomes are excellent.
Safety Profile
- The procedure itself is not painful: relaxing medicine is given beforehand and the site is numbed
- A surface procedure that does not enter the eye
- With amniotic membrane and conjunctival autografts, recurrence risk is low and cosmetic outcomes are excellent
- Dr. DeBry has performed over 15,000 eye surgeries and uses current technology for pterygium treatment
- Two surgical settings available, so both insured and self-pay patients can be treated
Possible Side Effects
- Recurrence is the major risk, with approximately 5% of pterygium requiring a second surgery months or years later
- Intraocular pressure can rise from the effects of the post-operative medication, which is usually not permanent and can be treated
- Permanent scar tissue on the cornea is possible depending on how healing goes
- An irregular corneal shape, meaning astigmatism, can develop and could reduce vision
- Scratchy discomfort for about three days, with the eye red for three weeks and pink for six to ten weeks afterward
How We Minimize Risk
Graft Coverage of the Defect
Covering the surgical site with either your own conjunctival tissue or an amniotic membrane is what keeps recurrence low and the cosmetic result clean.
Pressure Monitored During Medication
Post-operative medication can raise intraocular pressure, so it is watched during the three months of included follow-up and treated if it rises.
Volume and Current Technique
Over 15,000 eye surgeries performed, with both current graft methods offered rather than a single technique applied to every eye.
Why NV EYE SURGERY
Why Patients Travel Here for Pterygium Surgery
This practice is a local leader in pterygium surgery, and treats patients from California and Arizona as well as Southern Nevada.
Two Surgical Settings
A surgery center option for medically insured patients and our in-office suite for self-pay patients means we can treat every patient who needs it, at a price that works.
Both Graft Techniques
Amniotic membrane and conjunctival autograft methods are both used here, which is what keeps recurrence low and cosmetic outcomes strong.
Corneal Subspecialty Background
Fellowship training in corneal and external disease at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, applied to a condition that is fundamentally a disease of the eye surface.
Our Team
Meet Your Surgeon
Pterygium surgery here is performed by a fellowship-trained corneal and external disease specialist who has completed over 15,000 eye surgeries, with evaluation and follow-up handled by our clinical team.
Find Us
Pterygium Removal Surgery in Henderson & Las Vegas
Pterygium evaluations at both offices, with surgery at either the surgery center or our in-office suite.
Coverage & Financing
Cost & Insurance
Pterygium is potentially sight-threatening, and the surgery is usually covered by insurance because removal counts as medically necessary once you have symptoms.
With Insurance
What you pay depends on your co-pay and deductible amount. That price includes preoperative testing, the surgical suite, the surgeon fee, and three months of post-operative visits.
- Removal is considered medically necessary when you are experiencing symptoms
- Common plans accepted include Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Culinary, UMR, Teachers, United HealthCare, Sierra Health and Life, and TriCare
- Insured patients have the procedure at the surgery center
- Text a photo of your insurance card to (702) 935-5746 to confirm your coverage
- We take Medicare but cannot see Senior Dimensions or Humana Gold Medicare Advantage patients except in rare authorized cases
Self-Pay
Our in-office surgical suite gives self-pay patients a second option, and it is the reason patients travel here from California and Arizona for pterygium removal.
- Self-pay patients usually save around $500 per treatment compared with other local surgeons
- All payment forms accepted: cash, check, credit card, or money order
- CareCredit financing available through our office
- You can be seen here even without medical insurance, or if we are not on your plan
Flexible financing available. We work with CareCredit to offer low- and no-interest payment plans for care not covered by insurance. Ask about your options at your visit. Results may vary. Individual results are not guaranteed. Financing subject to credit approval. See office for complete terms and conditions.
locationsCommon Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we hear at pterygium evaluations, drawn from what patients in Las Vegas, California, and Arizona ask most.
What causes a pterygium?
Sun exposure combined with a genetic predisposition. Ultraviolet rays damage the small cells of the eye surface and drive abnormal growth. Darkly pigmented individuals appear to have a higher rate, as do people with frequent sun exposure or from countries closer to the equator.
Is the surgery painful?
The procedure itself is not painful. You are given relaxing medicine beforehand and the surgical site is numbed. Expect some scratchy discomfort for about three days afterward.
What is the risk of the procedure?
Recurrence is the main one, with roughly 5% of pterygium requiring a second surgery months or years later. Post-operative medication can raise eye pressure, which is usually temporary and treatable. Depending on healing, permanent corneal scarring or astigmatism could reduce vision.
Does insurance cover it?
Usually yes. Pterygium is potentially sight-threatening, and removal is considered medically necessary when you are experiencing symptoms from the condition. Your cost then depends on your co-pay and deductible.
How long does healing take?
The eye will be red for about three weeks, which is a superficial hemorrhage that resolves without issues. It stays pink for another six to ten weeks and becomes white about three months after surgery. Scratchy irritation lasts a week or two.
When can I go back to work?
Resting the eye for at least three days helps the procedure succeed. Most patients can return to work after about five days, depending on how the eye feels.
How do I know if I need surgery at all?
Two situations point to it. One is the growth becoming large enough to cover the cornea or change its shape, which blurs vision. The other is irritation that has become annoying or redness with a cosmetic impact you would rather not live with.
Ready When You Are
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Most patients see results within 24 hours. Consultations are available at all four locations, online scheduling takes less than two minutes.
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