What is a freckle in the eye?

A nevus is a common, colored growth on or in your eye. Sometimes called a freckle of the eye, it is similar to a mole on your skin. 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.

How serious is a freckle in your eye?

A freckle in your eye might seem odd, but they're actually common and usually harmless. If you have one, your eye doctor may want to watch it over time. It's rare, but they can turn into a type of cancer called melanoma.

What causes a freckle in the eye?

An eye freckle is very similar to a mole on your skin or a freckle. And similar to both moles and freckles, a nevus can be brown, yellow or gray. Cells called melanocytes produce melanin, which gives color to your skin and to your eyes, and when these cells lump together, an eye freckle is the result.

What percentage of eye freckles are cancerous?

It is a flat pigmented lesion that is benign, with roughly one in 10 people developing this type of nevus. Although it is generally noncancerous, a choroidal nevus still has a small potential to become cancerous. That is why it needs to be followed by your eye doctor.

Can eye freckles be removed?

Can a nevus be removed? Because nevi don't affect your vision or cause health problems, they usually don't need to be removed. In fact, removal could do more damage than good. However, if a nevus becomes cancerous, your ophthalmologist may recommend it be removed with radiation therapy or surgery.

Nevus in the Eye – Could It Mean Cancer? | Tara McCannel, MD, PhD | UCLAMDChat

Are eye freckles genetic?

Eye Freckles and Their Causes

Eye freckles can be caused by genetic traits or sun exposure. You can be born with eye freckles or develop them later in life. There are actually several kinds of eye freckles, and proper examination by a professional eye doctor ensures proper diagnosis and treatment planning.

How do you get rid of a nevus in your eye?

If melanoma is suspected, your eye doctor will recommend an excisional biopsy, in other words removing the pigmented lesion surgically. The resulting hole in the conjunctiva is closed with dissolvable sutures, surgical “glue”, or laser cautery, depending on its size and location.

Should I be worried about freckles?

In most cases, freckles are harmless. They form as a result of overproduction of melanin, which is responsible for skin and hair color (pigmentation). Overall, freckles come from ultraviolet (UV) radiation stimulation. There are two categories of freckles: ephelides and solar lentigines.

Is eye melanoma curable?

These rare cancers can be treated with either surgical removal of the tumor, if it is small enough, or radiation therapy. In more advanced cases or if there is serious eye damage, enucleation (removal of the eyeball) may be needed.

How common is melanoma in the eye?

Ocular melanoma is the most common primary cancer affecting the eye. However, it is a rare disorder and is estimated to be diagnosed in about 2,500 people in the United States each year. The incidence is unknown, but one estimate places it at about 5-6 people per every 1,000,000 people in the general population.

What does a brown spot on your eye mean?

Conjunctival nevus is the most common cause of brown spots in the eye (eye freckles). Conjunctival melanoma is a non-cancerous growth composed of multiple nevi or nevi clusters that appear as brown spots in the eye's conjunctiva and iris. Eye freckles are a common condition that can be caused by a variety of factors.

Is a nevus cancerous?

A mole (also known as a nevus) is a benign (non-cancerous) pigmented tumor. Babies are not usually born with moles; they often begin to appear in children and young adults. Having many moles: Most moles will never cause any problems, but someone who has many moles is more likely to develop melanoma.

What does a nevus look like?

A common mole (nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge. A dysplastic nevus is often large and does not have a round or oval shape or a distinct edge. It may have a mixture of pink, tan, or brown shades.

Can a freckle be melanoma?

Lentigo maligna melanoma

To start with, lentigo maligna melanomas are flat and develop sideways in the surface layers of skin. They look like a freckle, but they're usually larger, darker and stand out more than a normal freckle. They can gradually get bigger and may change shape.

Can a nevus appear suddenly?

Moles, or nevi, typically form during childhood and adolescence, but new moles can appear in adulthood. Although most moles are noncancerous, or benign, the development of a new mole or sudden changes to existing moles in an adult can be a sign of melanoma.

What are the symptoms of melanoma in the eye?

Is ocular melanoma a death sentence?

Choroidal melanoma is a disease with a high mortality rate, usually irrespective of the chosen treatment modality. About 30-50% of patients with choroidal melanoma will die within 10 years from diagnosis and treatment. Death is usually secondary to distant metastases, and the risk is greatest in larger tumors.

When should a freckle be checked?

A mole or freckle should be checked if it has a diameter of more than a pencil eraser or any characteristics of the ABCDEs of melanoma (see below). Dysplastic nevi are moles that are generally larger than average (larger than a pencil eraser) and irregular in shape.

How do I know if a freckle is cancerous?

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage IA Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is less than 1.0 millimeter thick (less than the size of a sharpened pencil point) with or without ulceration (broken skin) when viewed under the microscope. Stage IB Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 1.0 millimeter and less than 2.0 millimeters thick without ulceration.

What causes a nevus?

Congenital nevi are thought to be caused by a genetic mutation, called a sporadic mutation, which develops randomly as a baby grows in the womb. The condition is not inherited.

What does a benign nevus look like?

Most people have between 10 and 40. Common nevi are harmless collections of colored cells. They typically appear as small brown, tan, or pink spots. You can be born with moles or develop them later.

Is nevus a disorder?

Epidermal nevus syndromes (ENSs) are a group of rare complex disorders characterized by the presence of skin lesions known as epidermal nevi associated with additional extra-cutaneous abnormalities, most often affecting the brain, eye and skeletal systems.

Can a nevus turn into melanoma?

A dysplastic nevus may develop into melanoma (a type of skin cancer), and the more dysplastic nevi a person has, the higher the risk of melanoma.