If you have noticed brown spots or freckle-like growth on your eyes, it is quite common. These pigmented spots are also seen in 10% of other individual cases when nevi or choroidal nevi, develop. These eye freckles are harmless, but you need to know their causes to see exactly what they are running towards as a sign of potential growth or danger.
A brown spot on the eye, medically known as a nevus or choroid nevi. The clumping of pigment cells causes eye freckles, which are also known as ocular melanoma, and some people are born with tiny brown spots.
Brown spots on the eyes are unusual growths on the eyes, or brown appearance, in the sclera, or within the colored iris of an eye. These harmless freckles are caused by the clustering of natural pigments.
Unlike eye floaters, which are spots in our vision, these brown spots are clumping of vitreous masses that cast tiny shadows on the retina. There are different types of brown spots on the eyes, classified based on their location and distinct characteristics.
Freckles are comparatively small, flat, and circular spots on the eye surface, that are uniformly brown or grey. They typically fade in the winter months, and chances of them being genetic also exist.
Eyes are delicate and UV exposure can harm our skin and eyes badly. To protect the sun spots resembling freckles ( the itchy, raised eyes with a warty texture), start wearing sunglasses in an outdoor environment.
Conjunctival nevus is a type of nevus (mole) that forms on the conjunctiva, the clear tissue of the eye and it can happen because of hyperpigmentation. Various pigmentation and sizes of brown spots may occur and it may also appear slightly yellow when it becomes light.
Iris nevi is seen as the pigmentation on the lenses of the eyes, which are usually colored. Eye specialists will help you monitor the freckles or nevus in the stroma of the eyes, and only in rare cases are these spots cancerous. Practice hygienic eye practices and be considerate of the right nutrition for your eyes to prevent any sort of vision interruption in the eyes.
Choroidal nevi is pigmentation found in the back of the eyes. Let’s put it this way, melanocytic lesions appear on the posterior (back side of) uvea, the middle eye part beneath the sclera. Like other spots in the eyes, there can be areas that appear non-pigmented or amelanotic.
It means that the spots on the eyes appear yellowish rather than brown in such a condition of the eyes. They also form when there is an excessive deposit of drusen and have the degenerative tendency of the overlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).
The formation of eye freckles can occur because of the natural pigmentation process. Brown eye spots are quite common due to the natural pigmentation process, but what is uncommon is its proximity to cancer. If there is a sign of development of brown spots, immediate medical attention is needed. Several factors can be responsible for causing the brown spots in the eyes, let’s look at what they are,
Studies have identified various genes associated with melanin pigmentation and iris morphology, which can impact eye color and potentially the development of brown spots in the eyes. People with higher natural melanin levels, particularly those of African descent, are more prone to developing eye freckles from birth.
However, people with fair skin color and light eye colors, such as blue or green eyes, are also prone to uveal melanoma.
Excessive UV radiation exposure can also lead to brown spot formation, triggering the melatonin clustering process. The UV light can distort the vision and even give rise to dark brown spots with prolonged exposure, but this can also recover on its own.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can sometimes cause melasma, a condition that leads to hyperpigmentation and brown patches on various body parts, including the eyes. It can also indicate high blood pressure, but if any prolonged issues with vision persist, one needs to seek immediate medical help.
Conjunctival nevi are benign growths on the clear tissue of the eye, called conjunctiva. This harmless benign may appear light brown or yellow. The brown spots can be seen due to hormonal shifts not only in pregnancy but also in puberty and exposure to ultraviolet rays. over
In very rare instances, these conjunctival nevi can be cancerous. Make sure you get your children diagnosed if you notice any predisposed brown spots on the eyes at birth.
The brown spots in the eyes are usually symptomless, but when you look into the mirror, you can see some. You need to track symptoms, in case, the early signs of ocular melanoma can confuse you. The possible signs are,
Most benign brown spots in the eyes are normal and have no issues. Regular checkups can help you track these spots. Your eye doctor, in case of any signs of complications, may recommend that you remove the brown spot on the eye sclera or conjunctiva.
The brown spots on the eye can be treated with laser eye surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination of the two. Tropical medication applied to the area can recover benign brown spots (nevi).
In the case of cancerous eye freckles (ocular melanoma), these require radiation therapy. Small to medium-sized eye melanomas, with high-powered energy, such as protons or gamma rays, to target and kill cancer cells. Always speak to your optician for any issues concerning your eyes and brown spots.
Consult your eye doctor if you have pain associated with a brown spot on your eye. Check if the eye freckle progresses over time. Even if there are significant changes in the size, shape, and color of the spot, pain can be concerning.
Notice that the progression of symptoms like blurry vision is unlikely in the case of brown spots in the eyes. Sudden loss of vision, floaters, flashes of light, loss of part, and others continue to grow in those eyes.
Any sort of discomfort, redness, or other abnormalities also need immediate medical advice. So, stay aware if your vision starts to change or hurt in other ways than freckles in the eyes. The key diagnostic factors when you need emergency care are:
Brown spots in the eyes. How do you beat the nemesis? The first step is identifying them, and it is possible when we take a routine dilated eye examination from your eye doctor. The appearance of brown spots is noticed. Nevi usually appears with brown, gray, or slate-colored lenses, with unusual color blends with ocular tissue.
Retinal photographs are a diagnostic tool that acknowledges the existence and progression of brown spots in different locations of our eyes, be they choroidal, iris, or conjunctival nevus. Based on this, eye care experts provide us with the proximity and potential risk of ocular melanoma, which is a rare type of cancer.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging diagnostic technique that exposes the underlying nevus when looked closely at with cross-sectional views of the retina.
Ultrasound imaging can detect the nevus’s thickness and the internal structure of the eyes. It can help differentiate between various types of retinal detachments, tumors, and other intraocular lesions.
Fluorescein Angiography (FA) is a diagnostic tool used to see if there are any abnormalities in the eyes, the benign growth of blood vessels, or the increased proximity of brown spots in ocular pathologies.
The diagnosis is based on the appearance of the lesion, which is usually a brown to slate gray coloration with distinct but mildly blurred margins where the color of the nevus blends into the surrounding tissue.
The eyes are crucial body organs of ours, and in any case of eye injuries, issues, or weird signs in the eyes, we need immediate medical treatment. Brown spots on the eyes and eye freckles are, however, normal changes in the eyes and are harmless.
An eye doctor or optometrist can provide a proper diagnosis if the particular spots or changes in the eye are prone to vision concern or not.
Yes, we provide emergency eye care for conditions like eye injuries, sudden vision loss, and infections. If you experience any urgent eye problems, please contact us immediately, and our team will assist you in getting the care you need.
Signs to watch for include blurry vision, floaters, sudden loss of vision, eye pain, redness, or sensitivity to light. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an eye exam at Vision Concern Eye Clinic as soon as possible for early diagnosis and treatment.
If you’re experiencing blurred vision, headaches, or eye strain, it may be a sign that you need glasses or contact lenses. Our eye exams will help determine whether you need corrective lenses. We’ll also discuss your options based on your lifestyle and preferences, including glasses, contacts, or even refractive surgery like LASIK.
