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Dr. Martinez’s ASAP procedure has resulted in superior patient outcomes, including one of the lowest documented recurrence rates in the world.
Pterygium Treatment
Pterygium, also known as Surfer’s Eye, is a fleshy growth that occurs on your eye, potentially causing vision problems and cosmetic changes. This surgical procedure is often life-changing to our patients, helping to improve their self-confidence and self-esteem, and allowing people to move forward in living their best life.
Depending on the patient’s cosmetic goals/desires and the severity of the condition, surgical removal of the Pterygium is often the patient’s first choice. Additionally, our clinical research shows that earlier surgical suite removal results in better clinical and cosmetic outcomes.
Dr. J. Alberto Martinez has a true passion for patients affected by Pterygium, and he is completely empathetic in your journey – as he too has a personal story with Pterygium that you can read here.
When considering any surgery or procedure, the most important consideration is choosing the best, most experienced, and highly skilled surgeon. In choosing Dr. Martinez, you may feel confident as he is one of the most widely sought-after surgeons for Pterygium excision. He has performed over 20,000 Pterygium surgeries, typically performing 300 to 400 procedures a year in our newly constructed and complete state-of-the-art office-based surgical suite. Dr. Martinez is a sought-after specialist in the advancement and development of innovative and revolutionary surgical techniques, and he has a Pterygium clinical research arm as part of his practice.
About The ASAP™ Procedure
- The operative eye is completely numbed using eye drops before the procedure to avoid any discomfort or pain during the procedure.
- This incredibly successful, advanced autograft surgery technique uses tissue fibrin glue for a no-stitches approach to the Pterygium removal procedure.
- The abnormal cornea tissue is removed and replaced with a thin graft of normal tissue.
- No-stitch pterygium surgery is made possible by using modern tissue adhesive composed of clotting proteins normally found in human blood. Tissue adhesive allows for successful conjunctival autograft transplantation in seconds rather than minutes. After about one week, the tissue adhesive dissolves, leaving no residue, and the eye heals comfortably.
- An amniotic membrane graft will be placed in the eye to aid the healing process and decrease inflammation. Because of its proven ability to prevent scar tissue, it is used to reduce the chance of recurrent Pterygium to less than 1%.
- The ASAP™ procedure has endlessly evolved over the years with one of the lowest recurrence rates in the world – 0.06% and excellent cosmetic results.
How The ASAP Procedure Can Benefit YOU
- Clearly Different and Backed by Clinical Research
- Best technique – meticulously cultivated over the years
- More comfortable for the patient and little to no pain
- In-office surgical suite with state-of-the-art technology
- Shorter recovery time – return to work within 1-2 days after surgery
- Excellent results both clinically and cosmetically
- Reduced risk of Pterygium recurrence, one of the lowest rates in the world
- Covered by insurance and a significant self-pay discount offered
The Eye White Institute, part of Visionary Eye Doctors, was developed to promote clinical research. Numerous clinical trials involving thousands of patients undergoing pterygium removal surgery have been presented at local, national, and international conferences, showing the skill of the surgeon and the innovative techniques employed can reduce the chance of recurrence to significantly less than 1%.
Recovery Time
When the topical anesthetic wears off, there may be eye irritation and pain for a day or so. Initially, your eye may be red and it may feel scratchy or gritty for a few days, your eyes may be a bit dry, and sensitive to light and you may notice more blood vessels or redness. Dr. Martinez will prescribe eye drops and ointment to be used starting 3 days before surgery and also over the next few months. You will have a follow-up appointment scheduled the next day and another follow-up in two weeks.
It is extremely important to keep the eye very clean and covered with an eye patch for the first day. We will remove it during your appointment the next day. You should cover your eye with the patch when you sleep or are in a dirty environment for at least 2 weeks after surgery. In addition, sunglasses with extensive sunlight protection, available at our office, are recommended for any outdoor activity to minimize sensitivity to light and further ultraviolet light (UV) damage. The greatest risk period for postoperative complications is about two to three weeks after the eye surgery, so you should refrain from using any eye makeup, heavy lifting, swimming, hot tubs, or dusty or dirty environments during this time.
If any emergency arises, our office can be contacted 24 hours a day at (301) 591-1763.
The whiter eye results are often visible within 4 to 6 weeks or within a few months after the procedure, and typically whiter white in about 4 to 6 months. Initially, you may feel a bit of a scratchy sensation for a few days, your eyes may be a bit dry, and sensitive to light and you may notice more blood vessels or redness.
Insurance and Cost of the ASAPTM Procedure
Pterygium removal is typically covered by most insurance providers. Please click here for insurance and payment information.