specialist and operates the largest Pterygium referral
practice in the United States. He is a Board-Certified
Ophthalmologist, UCLA-Trained Cornea Specialist,
and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Pterygium specialist and operates
the largest Pterygium referral practice
in the United States. He is a
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist,
UCLA-Trained Cornea Specialist,
and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Request an Appointment
Eye Doctor’s #1 Referral Choice for Pterygium Surgery
The Pterygium Surgery Center
of
Los Angeles
We are specialists in the treatment and removal of Pterygium (Carnosidad, Surfer’s Eye) in addition to tumors of the ocular surface.
No sutures.
No recurrence guarantee.
#1 referred Pterygium surgeon in Los Angeles.
Pterygium Surgery
Artificial teardrops can help with Pterygium symptoms such as irritation but treating the cause by removing a Pterygium has helped countless people.
Recurrence Rates < 1%
Dr. Michel’s recurrence rate is < 1% and has been for many years. It is extremely rare that Pterygium growths return with our excellent surgical techniques.
Before & After Photo Gallery
See the results for yourself! Click to see how my patients eyes looked before Pterygium surgery and how they look now after surgery
Get Rid of Your Pterygium Forever, with NO Recurrence
Thousands of people in the United States suffer from a Pterygium (Carnosidad, Surfer’s Eye) growing on their eye. Although Pterygium growths are benign, the redness, irritation, pain, vision loss, or blindness they cause are not.
Dr. Michel has earned his reputation as “The King of the Pterygium” for good reason. No other doctor in the US can come close to his mastery of Pterygium surgery and his recurrence rate of < 1%.
If you, a loved one, or a friend suffer from a Pterygium, Dr. Michel will remove it without causing you pain, will not use sutures of any kind, and completely guarantees against Pterygium recurrence.
As the foremost trusted Pterygium doctor, patients who have had surgery elsewhere come to Dr. Michel when their Pterygium grows back.
The experience with Dr Michel and his staff was great!
★★★★★Sergio H., Los Angeles
Dr Franz Michel removed my scar tissue (Pterygium Growth). The surgery was on my left eye which had already had the procedure by a different doctor earlier. That doctor was horrible, but the experience with Dr Michel and his staff was great! He did a whole lot and he always took time to explain; never in a rush! He was more professional, and he is up to date with latest technologies and procedures. My recovery was quick and only with minor discomfort. If needed, I will definitely come back to see Dr. Michel and will recommend him wholeheartedly.
DR. MICHEL IS THE BEST!
★★★★★Yolanda R., Los Angeles
Finding Dr. Michel was a blessing! I’ve had pterygium in both eyes for 20+ years. I wanted them removed, but (1) I was told that the rate of recurrence was 40-50% and (2) I was terrified. For these reasons, I decided to live with pterygium(s) even though I had intermittent eye pain. I sit in front of a computer all day at work and my pterygiums flared up daily. The constant comments from co-workers about my red eyes were embarrassing. A few weeks ago I had a problem with my vision and went to urgent care (after-hours). The doctor at urgent care said it was the pterygiums flaring up and referred me to an opthalmologist. I researched, researched, researched and although I live in Los Angeles county and Dr. Michel is in Ventura county, I called for a consultation and traveled 3 hours round trip for a consult. Dr. Michel informed me that it wasn’t pterygiums that were causing my vision problems. I felt so comfortable and confident in Dr. Michel’s skill, I decided that if I was ever going have the pterygiums removed, now would be the time because there is no one better. Dr. Michel explained his method of pterygium surgery and that it has a very low recurrence rate (less than 1%), there’s a quick recovery time AND MOST IMPORTANTLY — NO PAIN. DR. MICHEL IS THE BEST! He did a graft procedure and used glue — no stitches. A few minutes before the procedure, I was given an oral sedative and my eye was numbed with drops. I was sooo happy I did not feel a thing during the procedure and before I knew it, it was over. I didn’t feel much pain during recovery either … mostly my eyeball was irritated and red; felt as if it was bruised, my eye was super-watery and sensitive to light for about 1.5 weeks. Today marks the 2nd week since the surgery and my eye is white and feels great! I will be going back to Dr. Michel in a couple of weeks to schedule surgery for the other eye. Dr. Michel is a pro and he and his staff are absolutely wonderful, compassionate and professional. They made me feel comfortable from the get-go and I am extremely happy and grateful that Dr. Michel performed the procedure.
Dr Michel is the PRO.
★★★★★Mark A., Thousand Oaks
Dr Michel is the PRO. You’ve probably come here to find a Dr. who you can really, really, really trust with one of your most valuable assets, your eyes. Due to years of glaring sun while surfing and years of dusty mountain bike riding I had to have pterygium surgery done in both eyes. I had another doctor do my left eye years ago and when I needed my right eye done recently, I wanted a different doctor. I just couldn’t have been happier with Dr. Michel. I also loved Naomi and Dr. Michel’s entire staff. They are a great reflection of his excellence. Though I was recovering well following my Friday surgery, I was surprised to get a thoughtful check up call from the Dr. himself on a Sunday! Go see Dr. Michel and rest easy knowing you have fallen into talented hands!
I will forever be grateful to Dr Michel and staff
★★★★★Kathy N., San Diego
If you have a pterygium, Dr Michel is the best doctor to help you with it. I consulted with Dr Michel because of a recurrent pterygium in my right eye (the first unfortunately unsuccessful operation was done by another surgeon in San Diego so I ventured elsewhere). During my first visit with Dr Michel, I was convinced he was the only doctor that could help me with my eye. We scheduled the second visit to be the pterygium surgery in Oxnard. The surgery was a success. After now about 6 months there are no signs of recurrence. Dr Michel is such a humble doctor, it was very comfortable talking to him. He is very straightforward. With every visit he discussed and explained all of my options to ensure I was well informed during decision making time and aware of any side effects. It was worth every visit driving from San Diego to Oxnard/Newbury Park. The ophthalmologists in San Diego (at least the three I had experience with) were all very hesitant to treat pterygiums because of the high recurrence rate. Dr Michel, however, is more concerned with the patient’s quality of life (of course along with patient eye health) and with his proven track record and surgical techniques he attacked the pterygium head on. My right eye was chronically red and inflamed from the regrowth of the pterygium, I was always embarrassed to be in public. He considers each patient’s unique situation and does not just “go by the book”. He assesses the condition and makes treatment decisions based on what he has seen work and also what the patient is comfortable with. I was so fortunate to have found Dr Michel. He is the ONLY doctor I would recommend and refer to pterygium patients. I will forever be grateful to Dr Michel and staff (the ladies at the practice are all so friendly, diligent and helpful).
Trust your Pterygium removal to the most trusted Pterygium doctor in Los Angeles and the US
Los Angeles’ Foremost Pterygium Doctor
Dr. Franz K. Michel
Pterygium Specialist
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
UCLA-Trained Cornea Specialist
Fellow of the American Academy
of Ophthalmology
Franz Michel MD is a Pterygium specialist. He is also a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist, UCLA-Trained Cornea Specialist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Michel runs a referral Pterygium practice in Los Angeles and Ventura County where he is referred to as “The King of the Pterygium.”
Dr. Michel speaks fluent Spanish and in serving the Latino community of Los Angeles County and Ventura County over the past 10 years he refined his Pterygium surgery technique to the point that they grow back less than 1% of the time. He has expanded to bring his fantastic track record to Los Angeles Pterygium in conjunction with Dr. J. Lin of Sherman Oaks.
Research & Publications
The Pterygium Knowledge Base
Could Eye Drops Fix a Pterygium?
A pterygium, or plural pterygia, is a wing-shaped overgrowth of white conjunctival tissue that grows over the surface of the cornea. As one of the cornea’s roles is to provide a transparent surface for light to pass through the eye, the opaque nature of the pterygium...
The Myths of Pterygium Removal (Carnosidad) Surgery
A young man recently came to me with advanced Pterygium growths on his eyes. He was terrified of surgery and the look of fear in his face was striking. A close friend of his had the same Pterygium surgery years ago with another doctor and had a really hard time...