Pterygium: when it needs surgery and how to keep it from coming back
What a pterygium is, when eye drops are enough and when surgery makes sense, and how to keep it from growing back. Surgery in Silao, 20 minutes from León.
In short: A pterygium is a fleshy growth with blood vessels on the white of the eye that can spread onto the cornea. Sun, wind and dust make it more likely. Drops often keep it under control; when it grows enough to bother you or block your vision, it’s removed surgically. The detail that matters most for the result is how the area is closed after removal, and I explain it below.
It usually starts the same way: a reddish or yellowish patch at the edge of the eye, on the side near the nose, that someone points out in a photo. Then the eye wakes up red more often and you feel grit in it. If you work outdoors, in the fields, in construction or driving, you’ve probably heard of it already.
What it is
The American Academy of Ophthalmology describes it as a growth of fleshy tissue, with blood vessels, on the conjunctiva, the clear layer that covers the white of the eye. It sometimes starts as a pinguecula, a small yellowish bump in the same spot. It can stay small or grow until it covers part of the cornea, and then it affects your vision.
It’s believed to come from a combination of three things: sunlight (ultraviolet rays), wind and dust.
Symptoms
- A red, swollen eye, mostly while the pterygium is growing.
- A yellow spot or bump on the white of the eye.
- Dry, itchy or burning eyes.
- A gritty feeling, as if something were stuck in the eye.
- Blurry vision, once it has spread onto the cornea.
When drops are enough
Often it doesn’t need treatment. If it bothers you, lubricating drops help with the irritation, and if there’s a lot of inflammation I prescribe steroid drops. Drops calm the eye, but they don’t remove the pterygium.
When surgery makes sense
When it grows enough to cause problems: it spreads onto the cornea, changes your prescription, blocks your vision or keeps flaring up despite the drops. At the evaluation I measure it, check how far it has reached onto the cornea and tell you whether to operate now or keep an eye on it.
The detail that matters most: keeping it from growing back
This is what I mentioned at the start. Removing the pterygium is only part of the surgery. After taking it out, the surgeon can transplant a thin piece of healthy tissue from your own eye onto the area (conjunctival autograft). According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this technique helps reduce the chance that the pterygium grows back. It’s the technique I use.
The other half is up to you after surgery: protecting the eye from sun, dust and dryness.
How to protect your eyes so it doesn’t come back
- Sunglasses with UV protection whenever you’re outdoors.
- Glasses or goggles when you work around dust.
- Artificial tears when your eyes feel dry.
Where I operate
At my office in Hospital Aranda de la Parra Puerto Interior, in Silao, about 20 minutes from León. The evaluation and post-op check-ups can be there or at my downtown Silao clinic. The whole visit can be in English.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pterygium go away on its own?
No. Drops calm the irritation and inflammation, but the tissue doesn’t disappear with them. If it grows enough to cause problems, it’s removed surgically.
Can it come back after surgery?
It can, which is why technique matters. Placing a graft of healthy tissue from your own eye after removal helps reduce that chance, and protecting yourself from sun and dust afterwards counts too.
How much does it cost and how much time off do I need?
It depends on the size of the pterygium, whether it has reached the cornea and the kind of work you do. That’s why I don’t quote a figure by message: at the evaluation I check it and tell you the cost and the time off for your case.
If you’ve been told you have a pterygium, message me on WhatsApp and I’ll tell you whether an evaluation makes sense.
Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology, What Is a Pinguecula and a Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye)?, reviewed by Cesar A. Briceno, MD, published January 13, 2026, accessed October 5, 2026.
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What my patients say
292 Google reviews across my two offices, averaging 4.9. Here are a few, translated from Spanish.
He performed pterygium surgery with a conjunctival autograft, and I am very grateful for his professionalism, clarity and follow-up throughout my recovery. He always kept an eye on my progress and answered my questions kindly.
The doctor is a very professional specialist, attentive and committed to his patients. He is always ready to answer any question and supports you throughout the whole process, from surgery to recovery.
With cataract surgery on both eyes, the surgeries, the treatment and the recovery have all been excellent. The service and care at the clinic have also been very professional, personal and trustworthy.
See reviews for Hospital Aranda de la Parra · Puerto Interior (5.0 · 113) → · See reviews for Oftalmo-Visión Clínica Oftalmológica (4.8 · 179) →
Want me to look at your case?
Send me a WhatsApp with the reason for your visit. I will tell you whether an evaluation makes sense and which of my two offices to come to, before you make the trip. The whole visit can be in English.