surgery for removing conjunctival vessels

[mariog23]

I have chronic vessels in my eyes that have been attributed to aging, dry eye, allergies, etc after seeing MULTIPLE ophthalmologists.  I have tried many treatment options and now am ready to seriously consider surgery to address the chronic bloodshot look of my eyes.  I was hoping the experts on this forum who are well versed in pterygium/pinguecula removal, which is a similar surgical procedure, could comment on the safety or efficacy of conjunctival removal surgeries plus mitomycin C.

Specifically, if the surgeon uses some kind of graft (autograft vs amniotic membrane), is this a fairly safe procedure?  It wouldn't be any riskier than a pinguecula removal surgery done for cosmetic reasons correct?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

This is not what you want to hear. A healthy psyche does not have low self esteem from chronic red eyes.  People that have no arms, no legs, one eye, physical disfigurement, etc can adjust and have self worth and self esteems.

You would do well to see a psychiatrist and start dealing with the causes of your low esteem than going into the operating room for a sugery that may leave you worse off than before.

That is all I have to say.
JCH MD

[mariog23]

I appreciate your honest answer about inappropriateness.  I've been suffering from low self-esteem from chronically bloodshot eyes despite maximal medical management.  I'm a male in my late 30's.

This is why I've come to this point in my life where I feel a drastic measure should be considered.  What other options do I have?  I've been told I cannot take FML long term (which a 4 week course) has helped only somewhat.

So this is why I'm asking if I tried one of these surgeries, what technique would be safer?  I've research conjunctiva removal to leave bare sclera + mitomycin C and learned that this can considered unsafe given the amount of tissue removed.

But what if amniotic membrane is used to cover up the defect area?  Would this basically give me a health conjunctiva after all the healing is done?  Do most patient with pinguecula removal end up with a whiter appearance to their sclera?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It is in appropriate to have major surgery with major expense and risk for run of the mill red eyes. If your problem is dry eyes and age you are not going to get any younger and if you're female it may get worse. These types of surgical conditions are totally inappropriate and in my opinion dangerous when done for common dry eyes red eye and you could end up looking much much worse.

JCH MD