Surfer’s eye · Cornea care
Pterygium Treatment & Removal in Fort Worth & Colleyville, TX
A pterygium is a growth on the white of the eye that can spread onto the cornea. Fellowship-trained cornea specialist Dr. David Truong evaluates and removes pterygia using a sutureless tissue graft for patients across Fort Worth, Colleyville, and the DFW area.
The short answer
What is a pterygium?
A pterygium is a fleshy, wedge-shaped growth that usually starts on the white of the eye near the nose and slowly grows toward the cornea. It is benign and is linked to ultraviolet light exposure, which is why it is often called surfer’s eye. Small pterygia may need only drops; larger ones can be surgically removed.
Time outdoors in sunny North Texas raises your risk. Patients from Fort Worth, Colleyville, Keller, and across DFW see Dr. Truong to have a pterygium evaluated and treated.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of a pterygium?
A pterygium is usually painless at first. Many people first notice it in the mirror, or someone else points it out. It may look slightly raised and contain visible blood vessels.
- ✓Redness on the white of the eye that may come and go.
- ✓Irritation or discomfort, often worse in wind, dust, or sun.
- ✓A gritty, foreign-body feeling, as if something is in your eye.
- ✓Blurry or distorted vision if the growth extends onto the cornea or causes astigmatism.
Some growths on the eye can look alike, so Dr. Truong examines the area closely. In some cases, a small biopsy is taken to confirm the growth is benign.
Risk factors
Who is most likely to develop a pterygium?
The exact cause is not fully known, but long-term exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun is the strongest link.
Sunny climates
Living in a sunny place like North Texas increases lifetime UV exposure.
Time outdoors
Outdoor work, golf, boating, and other outdoor hobbies raise your risk.
Age 20 to 40
Pterygia most often begin in this age range, although they can appear at any age.
Men
Men are more likely than women to develop a pterygium.
Family history
Having relatives with a pterygium may make you more likely to develop one.
Wind, dust, and dryness
Ongoing irritation of the eye’s surface may contribute to growth.
Prevention
How to protect your eyes
Wear UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat outdoors, and use lubricating drops in dry or windy conditions. Protection helps prevent a pterygium and lowers the chance of one returning after surgery.
Treatment
How is a pterygium treated?
Many pterygia never need surgery. Treatment depends on the size of the growth and how much it bothers you.
| Situation | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Small growth with no symptoms | Monitoring at regular eye exams, plus UV protection |
| Redness or irritation | Artificial lubricating tears or prescription eye drops to calm the eye |
| Growing toward the center of the cornea | Surgical removal before it reaches your line of sight |
| Blurred vision, limited eye movement, or a cosmetic concern | Surgical excision with a sutureless tissue graft |
Surgery is the only treatment that removes a pterygium. Drops relieve symptoms but do not make the growth go away.
Surgery
What happens during pterygium removal?
Pterygium excision is an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day.
Numbing
Your eye is numbed so you stay comfortable during the procedure.
Removal
Dr. Truong carefully removes the pterygium from the white of the eye and the cornea.
Sutureless graft
A thin tissue graft covers the area and is attached without stitches, which helps it heal and lowers the chance of regrowth.
Eye patch
A patch protects your eye for comfort, and you head home with written care instructions.
Recovery
What is recovery like after pterygium removal?
Recovery varies from person to person and can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.
- ✓Do not rub your eye. Rubbing can dislodge the graft while it heals.
- ✓Use your drops as directed. Your instructions explain which eye drops to use, when, and how to keep the eye clean.
- ✓Keep your follow-up visits. Dr. Truong will see you several times to make sure the eye heals well.
- ✓Protect your eye from the sun. Sunglasses help the area heal and reduce the risk of regrowth.
Recurrence
Can a pterygium come back after removal?
Yes, a pterygium can return, and there is no way to know for certain whether yours will. Covering the area with a tissue graft helps lower that risk, and ongoing UV protection matters too.
Keep up with regular eye exams after surgery, or as recommended, so any regrowth is caught early. You can schedule routine visits with Dr. Truong or optometrist Dr. Samantha Reynolds in Fort Worth or Colleyville.
Your surgeon
Why see Dr. Truong for pterygium surgery?
Because a pterygium grows onto the cornea, it is best treated by a cornea specialist. Dr. David Truong is a board-certified ophthalmologist who completed fellowship training in cornea and refractive surgery at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute.
- ✓Sutureless graft technique for a more comfortable recovery.
- ✓Full cornea expertise if the growth has affected the shape or clarity of your cornea.
- ✓Cataract and refractive care for patients who need more than one procedure.
- ✓Two convenient offices in Fort Worth (Alliance) and Colleyville.
Two locations
Pterygium care near you in Fort Worth and Colleyville
Consultations and follow-up visits are available at both offices, with Dr. Truong and optometrist Dr. Samantha Reynolds. Both offices are open Monday–Thursday 8:00 am–5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am–3:00 pm.
(817) 886-4600
(817) 886-4600
Coming from Keller or Southlake? See eye surgery for Keller and Southlake patients.
FAQ
Pterygium FAQs
Is a pterygium dangerous?
Usually not. A pterygium is a benign growth, but if it spreads over the center of the cornea it can blur your vision or cause astigmatism, so it should be checked and monitored by an eye doctor.
Can a pterygium go away on its own?
No. Lubricating or prescription drops can calm redness and irritation, but surgical removal is the only treatment that removes a pterygium.
What is the difference between a pterygium and a pinguecula?
A pinguecula is a yellowish bump on the white of the eye that stays off the cornea, while a pterygium is a fleshy growth that can extend onto the cornea. Both are linked to sun exposure.
Does pterygium surgery hurt?
Your eye is numbed, so most patients feel little during the procedure. A scratchy or irritated feeling for several days afterward is common, and your eye drops and patch help keep you comfortable.
How long does it take to recover from pterygium removal?
Most patients recover over a couple of weeks to a couple of months. You will use eye drops, avoid rubbing your eye, and return for several follow-up visits while the graft heals.
Will my pterygium come back after surgery?
It can, but a sutureless tissue graft helps lower the risk. Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses and keeping regular eye exams also help protect your result.
Where can I get pterygium removal near me in Fort Worth or Keller?
At Azure Eye Center, with offices in Fort Worth (Alliance) at 3900 N Tarrant Pkwy and in Colleyville at 5203 Heritage Avenue. Patients also come from Keller, Southlake, and North Richland Hills. Call (817) 886-4600.
Related pages
Bothered by a growth on your eye?
Schedule a pterygium evaluation with Dr. Truong in Fort Worth or Colleyville to learn whether drops, monitoring, or removal is right for you.
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Candidacy, treatment options, risks, and results vary by patient and are determined at an in-person exam with your eye doctor.