What is an eye freckle called?

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.

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.

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.

Do eye freckles mean anything?

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. So whether they're old or new, it's always a good idea to get them checked out.

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.

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

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 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.

Why is there a brown mark on my eye?

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.

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 black dot in your iris mean?

They are usually caused by a buildup in small flecks of collagen, produced in the gel-like vitreous in the back of the eye. As you age, the vitreous shrinks, causing the collagen fibers to tear away and block light from reaching the retina. The condition typically affects those aged 50 and above.

Can eye freckle affect vision?

Eye freckles can form in different parts of the eye and are harmless in most cases. Even though the freckles are on the eye, they do not affect a person's vision. A nevus is primarily a benign mark that forms when melanin-producing cells clump together.

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 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 often should a choroidal nevus be checked?

All choroidal nevi should be examined at least once a year. If your doctor notices certain features on your nevus, you may need to be checked more often. For example, if the nevus is particularly large or thick, has orange pigment, or is leaking fluid, then it is more likely to grow into a melanoma.

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.

Can a nevus become malignant?

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. A dysplastic nevus is sometimes called an atypical mole.

How is a nevus removed?

Is Removal Possible? Small nevi can be removed by simple surgical excision. The nevus is cut out, and the adjacent skin stitched together leaving a small scar. Removal of a large congenital nevus, however, requires replacement of the affected skin.

What is another name for a nevus?

Nevus (plural: nevi) is the medical term for a mole. Nevi are very common.

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.

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.

Is nevus benign or malignant?

A benign (not cancer) growth on the skin that is formed by a cluster of melanocytes (cells that make a substance called melanin, which gives color to skin and eyes). A nevus is usually dark and may be raised from the skin. Also called mole.

What is an atypical freckle?

Atypical moles can be larger than common moles, irregularly shaped, and of multiple colors. Moles (or Nevi) Are Groups of Pigment Cells in the Skin. Also called dysplastic moles, atypical moles may be genetic or caused by damage from sun exposure. About 1 in 10 people develop atypical moles during their lifetime.

How do I know if my nevus is cancerous?

Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of the mole. Change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain. Change in the surface of a mole – scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump.

How do you get rid of eye freckles?

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.

Can freckles turn into melanoma?

Freckles 101

Freckles are actually evidence of a genetic mutation in your “freckle gene.” No, you're not an alien, but when this gene (called the melanocortin one receptor gene) is mutated, you are at greater risk for predisposed skin cancer — both melanoma and non-melanoma types.