What does a freckle on the eye mean?

Iris freckles are tiny, dark brown flecks on the surface of the colored part of the eye (iris). Like skin freckles, they are caused by a buildup of melanin pigment. They are harmless and usually do not develop into melanoma.

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.

Is a freckle on the eye serious?

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.

How rare is an eye freckle?

When the eye freckle is on the iris (the colored part of the eye), it's called an iris nevus. Approximately 6 in 10 people have one.

Can an eye freckle 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.

What causes eye freckles? Are they dangerous?

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.

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 are eye freckles caused from?

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.

How do I know if my eye freckle is cancerous?

Can melanoma in the eye be cured?

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.

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.

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?

Some freckles can look normal but can potentially be a melanoma freckle. Most melanomas usually share a few tell-tale warning signs.

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.

How can you tell the difference between a melanoma and a choroidal nevus?

Choroidal nevi are slate-gray and relatively flat (less than 2mm thickness), although there is significant size overlap between small melanomas and larger nevi. Like choroidalal melanomas (i.e. full-blown eye cancers), they also may show overlying drusen or lipofuscin (figure 2).

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.

Is melanoma of the eye life threatening?

Called "OM" for short, ocular melanoma is a malignant tumor that can grow and spread to other parts of the body - this process, known as metastasis, is often fatal and occurs in about half of all cases.

What does iris melanoma look like?

Circumscribed iris melanomas appear as a variably pigmented well-defined mass in the iris stroma and is more commonly found in the inferior half of the iris. The degree of pigmentation can vary as well as the shape. Some are small and flat and others are elevated and dome shaped.

Is freckle in eye genetic?

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.

What do freckles mean?

Freckles are extra patches of coloring (or pigment) under your skin. Doctors call them ephelides. You have them because of the genes you were born with. Freckles often show up during childhood, and you may continue to get more until you're in your 20s. People with fair skin or red hair are most likely to have them.

What does the early stage of melanoma look like?

What to look for: Usually, the most obvious warning signs of early stage melanoma are changes to your moles or spots: in size, shape, colour or in how they look or how they feel. Melanoma can also appear as a new mole (more commonly in people aged 50 years or more)².

How long does it take for ocular melanoma to metastasize?

Approximately 50% of ocular melanoma patients will develop metastatic disease within 15 years of the original diagnosis, and currently there is no cure for metastatic OM.

What causes brown spot on white of eye?

The brown lesion you see on the sclera (the white part of the eye) is called Primary Acquired Melanosis of the conjunctiva (PAM). This is a potentially dangerous melanocytic lesion that can lead to melanoma of the eye. Most patients have no symptoms, but may notice the cosmetic changes on the surface of the eye.

Can brown spots in eyes be removed?

How Do You Get Rid of Brown Spots in Your Eyes? There are medicated drops available that may lighten your brown spots, as well as laser therapy that can rid your spots. If you develop any new spots on your eye or questionable color changes of your sclera, ask your doctor to take a look.