Pterygium Treatment & Surgery
Dr. Michel’s Pterygium recurrence rate is < 1% which is the best in Los Angeles and all of southern California. Patients come from all over the United States and worldwide for Pterygium removal surgery. Because once it’s done, it’s done! Dr. Michel is referred to as The King of Pterygium.
Eye drops
Eye drops such as artificial tears can help in mild cases but many times the definitive treatment is to have Pterygium surgery to remove the growth and prevent it from coming back.
Artificial teardrops can help with Pterygium symptoms such as irritation but treating the cause by removing a Pterygium has helped countless people. Pterygium surgery can be performed using different techniques which include simple removal, removal with Conjunctival Graft or Amniotic Membrane Graft and chemotherapy medication drops such as Mitomycin C.
Pterygium Removal Surgery – Before & After

Types of Pterygium Treatment and Surgery
Simple Pterygium removal (excision) is an older technique and should be avoided. The recurrence rate with this technique is 50% in the general population and roughly 99% in the Latino population.
Pterygium surgery with an Amniotic Membrane Graft is a viable option but still carries an unacceptably high recurrence rate. Studies have shown a recurrence rate varying from 15-25%. In our opinion, this is too high.
Dr. Michel uses Amniotic Membrane Grafts in addition to Conjunctival Grafts in very complicated cases when there is so much scarring that the eyelid is literally stuck to the surface of the eye.
A Conjunctival Graft is, in our opinion, the best Pterygium surgery technique available. There is nothing better for your eye than your own natural eye tissue. Replacing a Pterygium with a small piece of the outer covering of the eye gives great results, especially when Dr. Michel performs it.
Dr. Michel’s Pterygium recurrence rate is < 1% which is the best in Los Angeles and all of southern California. Patients come from all over the United States and worldwide for Pterygium removal surgery. Because once it’s done, it’s done!
Chemotherapy drops such as Mitomycin C have their place especially when dealing with an aggressive Pterygium in a younger person.
The Benefits of Pterygium Removal Surgery with Dr. Franz Michel
Low recurrence rate
Dr. Michel’s recurrence rate on first time Pterygium surgeries is less than 1% and has been that low for many years. It is extremely rare that Pterygium growths come back with his excellent surgical techniques.
Dr. Michel is THE expert in the field of Pterygium removal treatment and surgery
Dr. Michel’s Pterygium surgery does not hurt. He uses multiple types of anesthetic to prevent pain and to keep you comfortable. Most of his patients only require Tylenol after surgery.
No sutures!
Pterygium surgery can hurt for many weeks if sutures are used. Dr. Michel uses advanced grafting techniques that do not use painful stitches in the eye.
Guarantees against Pterygium recurrence
Dr. Michel is confident in his abilities and has years of results to prove it. Dr. Michel’s Pterygium removal clinic is the ONLY clinic in the world to include a guarantee against recurrence for patients paying out of pocket (non-insurance cases.) With a recurrence rate of 1 in a 1000, he can easily and confidently back up his work.
We fix previous Pterygium surgeries and can treat the most difficult cases
Dr. Michel successfully treats thousands of cases where the Pterygium grew back after previous surgery elsewhere.
If you’ve been told nothing can be done for a Pterygium growing on your eye, we can help you. Nobody has a more successful history of treating a Pterygium than Dr. Michel.
We accept all major PPO insurances and Medicare and offer reasonable rates for those paying out of pocket.
For more information on Pterygium treatment and surgery, please call us at (833) 252-2020.
More to Know About Pterygium
What Is a Pterygium?
Causes & Symptoms
Treatment & Surgery
Pinguecula
Pterygium Removal Surgery: Before & After Gallery