Texas Teacher's Eye Freckle Removal: 8-Minute Transformation at AGEI

What is an eye freckle?

An eye freckle, also known as a choroidal nevus, is a common, benign cluster of pigment cells (melanocytes) inside the eye. It’s similar to a freckle or birthmark but occurs on the choroid, the layer of blood vessels and connective tissue between the retina and the sclera (the white part of the eye).

Some people have light brown spots in the white area, while others have dark, flat hyperpigmentation in the colored area of their eyes. A nevus (plural: nevi) can be in the front of your eye, around the iris, or under the retina at the back of the eye. Freckles can be found during a routine eye exam.

Although most choroidal nevi are harmless, a small percentage progress to choroidal melanoma or eye cancer.

Therefore, eye doctors recommend keeping a close eye on any eye freckles to ensure they don’t change or indicate any underlying eye diseases. 

If there are cosmetic concerns about an eye freckle, Dr. Kerry Assil and the staff at Assil Gaur Eye Institute (AGEI) can remove it with a non-invasive procedure to remove the pigment.

Why did Janet travel to Assil Gaur Eye Institute for eye freckle removal?

A resident of the sprawling West Texas town of El Paso, Janet was born with blemish-free eyes. The first freckle glimmer appeared at 11, and by 18, it had enlarged and was much, much darker. 

“I couldn’t look people in the eyes because they’d notice my freckle,” she says.

Once she decided to act, Janet could not locate anyone with a practice near her who could remove the unappealing eye freckle. Her next stop was TikTok, where she educated herself by watching videos of other young folks addressing their freckles.

AGEI stood out as a stellar eye care provider on social media and the web. 

“I began looking on the web to understand how the procedure is done,” Janet says. “I read the entire AGEI site and enjoyed the glowing testimonials. There were also videos of professional athletes and celebrities who had surgery performed on their eyes.”

What’s the minimally invasive eye freckle removal procedure?

Removing cosmetic nevus is a straightforward procedure. Dr. Assil uses a mild thermal brushing technique to extract the pigment from the surface of the conjunctiva — the thin, transparent membrane that protects the eye

“I was very comfortable during the entire process, which took only about eight minutes,” says Janet. “There was no sedation, just some numbing drops. No pain at all, just a little swollen afterward for a short time. I was ready for the procedure. I already had a sense of what it would be like. I just didn’t realize it would be so short.”

Unlike a more invasive eye surgery, cosmetic nevus treatment has a quick and painless recovery and no side effects.

How did eye freckle removal improve Janet’s confidence and relationships?

Eye freckle removal significantly improved Janet's confidence, allowing her to comfortably look people in the face and fostering smoother student relationships. Before surgery, Janet was stressed about her limited vacation time and the appearance of her eye freckle, which had enlarged and darkened since she was 11. After the procedure, she was overjoyed to see the white of her eye completely clear, leading to a soaring self-confidence. She now feels normal and can interact with others without self-consciousness.

The rush to surgery was worth it. “When I was done, I looked at the white of my eye, which was completely white; there was no color,” she says. “I hated that freckle so much I just started crying.”

Indeed, her self-confidence soared. “I now can look people in the face and talk to them comfortably, knowing my eyes look normal.”

Why trust AGEI for your conjunctival nevus removal? 

Under Dr. Assil’s leadership, the Assil Gaur Eye Institute has assembled a team of top ophthalmology specialists from around the country who continue AGEI’s tradition of offering patients the highest quality of specialist eye care in the United States. In keeping with AGEI’s founding principles, our doctors have managed to keep their clinics comfortable and familiar, much like family-run medical practices used to be.

Today, AGEI is nationally recognized for its compassionate, patient-centric care, commitment to pioneering advances in ophthalmology, and dedication to supporting its patients’ and community’s health and well-being.

State-of-the-art treatments are available for all ocular conditions, including glaucoma, ‌cataracts, macular disease, floaters, dry eye, and diabetic eye conditions.

Our ophthalmologists are also highly trained in cataract surgery, laser eye surgery (LASIK), vitrectomy, and refractive lens exchange.

We are conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area at locations in or near Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles.