A Visible Growth
A pinkish or whitish growth on the white of the eye, usually on the side closest to the nose.
Pterygium in Los Angeles
Pterygium — commonly called surfer's eye — is one of the most common eye conditions in sunny, outdoor-active cities like Los Angeles. It's treatable, and when surgery is needed, the right technique makes all the difference in preventing it from coming back. Diagnosis, management, and surgical removal by fellowship-trained cornea specialist Dr. Bonnie Sklar.
Clinical photograph. Individual presentation varies.
What Is a Pterygium?
A pterygium (pronounced teh-RIJ-ee-um) is a non-cancerous growth of fibrovascular tissue that begins on the conjunctiva — the clear membrane covering the white of your eye — and spreads onto the surface of the cornea. It typically starts on the nasal side and grows horizontally toward the pupil, and in some cases both eyes are affected.
The tissue is wedge-shaped and may look pink, fleshy, or slightly opaque. Small pterygia often cause nothing more than mild redness and irritation, while larger ones can induce astigmatism, distort vision, and in advanced cases cover the visual axis. A pterygium is not cancerous and won't spread through the body, but it won't go away on its own — once it grows toward the center of the cornea, monitoring and eventual removal are typically recommended.
See the GradesSigns You May Have a Pterygium
Symptoms range from mildly bothersome to vision-impairing, depending on the size and location of the growth.
Redness & Irritation
Persistent redness or inflammation in the affected area, sometimes with sensitivity to light, wind, or dust.
Foreign-Body Sensation
A gritty feeling, as though something is in your eye.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Burning, stinging, or excessive tearing associated with the growth.
Blurred or Distorted Vision
Particularly if the pterygium is inducing astigmatism as it grows onto the cornea.
Cosmetic Concern
The growth is visible and can be socially noticeable, which prompts some patients to seek treatment.
When to see a specialist: if your pterygium is growing, causing significant discomfort, distorting vision, or approaching the pupil, see a cornea specialist. The longer it grows onto the cornea, the more tissue is involved and the more complex surgery becomes — earlier is better.
The Four Grades of Pterygium
Pterygia are graded by how far they extend onto the cornea. Your grade determines the urgency of treatment and influences the surgical approach if removal is needed.
Limbal
The pterygium reaches the edge of the cornea (the limbus) but has not grown onto the corneal surface. Little or no corneal involvement, and usually no symptoms beyond mild redness.
Early Corneal
The pterygium extends onto the cornea but has not reached the pupil margin. It may cause mild astigmatism and a foreign-body sensation. Managed conservatively or surgically depending on growth rate.
Pupil Margin
The pterygium reaches the edge of the pupil, and significant induced astigmatism and visual distortion are common. Surgical removal is typically recommended at this stage.
Visual Axis
The pterygium crosses the pupil and obscures the visual axis, causing significant vision loss. Removal is urgent, though corneal scarring beneath the growth may affect the final visual outcome.
Managing & Removing a Pterygium
Treatment depends on grade, growth rate, and symptoms. Many small pterygia are monitored for years; when growth, vision impact, or comfort cross a threshold, surgery is the only definitive treatment.
Lubricating Eye Drops
Artificial tears reduce dryness, irritation, and the foreign-body sensation. They don't stop growth but improve comfort, and are appropriate for mild, non-progressive pterygia.
UV Protection
Wraparound UV400 sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and reducing peak-hour sun exposure are the most important steps for slowing growth and preventing recurrence — especially in year-round-sunny Los Angeles.
Anti-Inflammatory Drops
When a pterygium becomes acutely inflamed, a short course of mild topical steroid or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops can calm it. This is a temporary measure and does not treat the underlying growth.
Surgical Excision
The only way to remove a pterygium permanently. Dr. Sklar uses the conjunctival autograft technique — the current gold standard — which has a significantly lower recurrence rate than older approaches.
Conjunctival Autograft — The Gold Standard
The pterygium is removed and the bare area is replaced with a small graft of the patient's own healthy conjunctiva — typically taken from the upper part of the same eye, hidden under the eyelid.
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Pterygium Removed
The abnormal fibrovascular tissue is carefully excised from the corneal surface and surrounding conjunctiva under topical anesthesia.
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Corneal Surface Smoothed
Any residual tissue is removed and the underlying corneal surface is prepared to minimize scarring and promote clear healing.
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Autograft Harvested
A thin piece of healthy conjunctival tissue is taken from the upper portion of the same eye, an area that heals without visible consequence.
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Graft Secured
The graft is placed over the bare area and secured with fibrin glue or fine sutures, acting as a barrier to prevent regrowth of fibrovascular tissue.
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Recovery
Most patients return to normal activities within one to two weeks. The eye may be red and mildly uncomfortable for several days, and anti-inflammatory drops are used during healing.
On recurrence: no technique eliminates it entirely, but the conjunctival autograft significantly reduces the risk compared to bare-sclera excision. Diligent UV protection after surgery is the single most important thing a patient can do to keep a pterygium from coming back.
Preventing Pterygium in Los Angeles
Pterygium is largely a UV-related condition, and in Los Angeles year-round sun and an outdoor lifestyle add up quickly.
Cumulative ultraviolet exposure — not a single sunburn, but decades of surfing, hiking, cycling, commuting, and working outdoors — is what drives the fibrovascular tissue to grow. Wind and dust accelerate it, and Santa Ana conditions deliver both. The habits below meaningfully reduce both first-time occurrence and post-surgical recurrence, and they cost almost nothing.
Wraparound UV400 Sunglasses
The single most important prevention measure. Wraparound styles block UV from the side as well as the front — look for UV400 certification, which blocks 99–100% of UV-A and UV-B rays.
Wide-Brimmed Hats
A hat with a 3-inch or wider brim can cut UV exposure to the eyes by up to 50% on a clear day — especially useful for outdoor workers, hikers, surfers, and cyclists.
Avoid Peak UV Hours
UV intensity is highest between 10am and 2pm. Scheduling outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon reduces cumulative exposure significantly over a lifetime.
Lubricating Drops
Wind and dry air — especially during Santa Ana conditions — contribute to pterygium formation and irritation. Regular preservative-free artificial tears reduce exposure-related irritation.
Regular Eye Exams
Annual comprehensive exams allow early detection of growth before it becomes symptomatic or reaches the visual axis, keeping treatment options simple.
Protective Eyewear at Work
Outdoor workers, landscapers, and anyone regularly exposed to dust, debris, or reflected UV should wear eyewear designed for occupational use.
Dr. Bonnie Sklar — Cornea & Pterygium Specialist
Dr. Sklar is Berg-Feinfield's fellowship-trained cornea specialist and performs pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft for patients throughout the Los Angeles area.
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Cornea Fellowship, Duke
A fellowship at Duke University Eye Center — one of the nation's most respected cornea programs — with extensive training in anterior segment surgery and ocular surface disease.
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Full-Scope Corneal Care
Beyond pterygium surgery, her practice covers keratoconus and cross-linking, Fuchs' dystrophy, corneal transplantation, complex cataract surgery, and ocular surface disease.
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Gold-Standard Technique
Pterygium removal with conjunctival autograft, which significantly lowers recurrence risk compared with older bare-sclera excision.
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Honest Surgical Guidance
Not every pterygium needs immediate removal. Dr. Sklar evaluates your specific situation and gives an honest recommendation on whether it's time for surgery.
Pterygium Treatment Near You
Dr. Sklar sees pterygium patients across Berg-Feinfield's Los Angeles-area offices, with surgical consultations available throughout the region.
Burbank
2625 W. Alameda Ave.
Suite 208
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 845-3557
Sherman Oaks
13320 Riverside Drive
Suite 114
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 501-3937
Beverly Hills
462 N. Linden Drive
Suite 441
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(866) 273-3327
Arcadia
638 W. Duarte Road
Suite 10
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 795-9793
Valencia
27335 Tourney Road
Suite 210
Valencia, CA 91355
(866) 273-3327
Pterygium — Your Questions Answered
A pterygium is not cancerous and does not spread through the body, but it should be evaluated to confirm the diagnosis, since a small number of more serious conditions can look similar. Once confirmed, regular monitoring matters because continued growth onto the cornea can impair vision and make removal more complex. The earlier a growing pterygium is addressed, the simpler the surgery and the better the outcome.
Recurrence is possible with any technique, but the conjunctival autograft method significantly reduces the rate compared with older bare-sclera excision. Post-surgical UV protection — sunglasses, hats, and reduced peak-hour sun exposure — is the single most important factor in keeping it from returning. Younger patients and those with heavy sun exposure have higher recurrence risk, and Dr. Sklar will discuss your individual risk and aftercare at your consultation.
Most patients return to normal daily activities within one to two weeks. The eye is typically red and mildly uncomfortable for the first several days, and anti-inflammatory and lubricating drops are used during healing. Plan to avoid swimming, dusty environments, and contact lens wear for several weeks as directed. You'll need someone to drive you home on the day of surgery, and final visual stabilization may take a few months if the pterygium had induced astigmatism.
A pterygium must be removed and fully healed before LASIK or any corneal refractive surgery, because it distorts the corneal surface and induces irregular astigmatism that would make LASIK measurements inaccurate. UV light used in LASIK can also stimulate pterygium growth. The recommended sequence is to remove the pterygium, wait for complete healing and corneal stabilization (typically 6–12 months), then proceed with LASIK if you're otherwise a good candidate.
Pterygium surgery is generally covered by medical insurance when it is medically necessary — typically when the growth causes vision problems, significant discomfort, or documented growth. Coverage may be more limited for purely cosmetic removal of a small, asymptomatic pterygium. Our team verifies your benefits and obtains prior authorization before scheduling, and CareCredit financing is also available.
A pinguecula is a yellowish, slightly raised deposit on the conjunctiva that does not extend onto the cornea. It's caused by the same UV and environmental factors as a pterygium and is very common in sunny climates, and it can sometimes evolve into a pterygium over time. Unlike pterygia, pingueculae rarely need surgery — they're managed with lubricating drops, UV protection, and monitoring. If you're unsure which you have, an evaluation will give you a clear answer.
Clear Eyes. Expert Care.
Whether your pterygium is small and just getting started or has been growing for years, Dr. Sklar and the Berg-Feinfield cornea team will give you an honest evaluation and a clear path forward.