What Does Brown Spot On Eye Mean?

What Does Brown Spot On Eye

A Brown spot on the eye is also known as eye freckles. It is not something you should be worried about. Some people have it since they are born, and in some people, it develops later in their life. Eye freckle is common, but you must get it checked by your doctor to avoid any inconvenience. In very rare the brown spot on the eye can turn into cancer. Even if you have had eye freckles for a very long time, you should get them checked by your doctor. Here is everything you need to know about the brown spot on the eye.

A Brief Introduction

There are three types of eye freckles conjunctival nevus, choroidal nevus, and the other is iris freckles. In conjunctival nevus, an abnormal colored growth in the eye occurs. It commonly occurs in front of around the iris area. These brown spots are similar to moles that are formed on the skin. A nevus can develop on the surface of the eye and the colored area of the eye. A nevus can be of different colors like grey, yellow, or a combination of different colors.

The other type of eye freckles is iris freckles. Iris freckles are similar to freckles on your skin. There is a brown spot on the eye in the colored part of your eye in this condition. Iris freckles are very common, and sometimes these eye freckles are formed before birth, while other times are formed after birth.

The third type of eye freckle is choroidal nevus. In this condition, a flat pigmented lesion is formed on the back of the eye. This lesion is usually benign. But these flat lesions have a very small tendency to become cancerous, so your doctor will ask you to get them treated.

What Are The Causes?

Still, now no exact reason for the formation of eye freckles is known. Different factors can lead to the formation of eye freckles. Here are some of the common causes.

  • According to a study, the formation of eye freckles is more common in people with lighter skin tones. On the other hand, people with dark skin tone have less ratio of eye freckles formation.
  • Sun exposure is another important factor that can cause eye freckles formation. A study observed that people who spend more time in the sun are more likely to develop eye freckles.

Other Symptoms

You might be thinking, are there any other symptoms along with a brown spot on the eye. There are no considerable symptoms that occur with eye freckles formation. There is only a brown spot on the white part of the eye in the conjunctival nevus, and there are no other symptoms. Sometimes this brown spot might change its color, and it usually occurs at puberty or during pregnancy.

In iris nevus, there is no other symptom other than the brown spot. If you have light-colored eyes like green or blue, then these nevi are easily detectable. If you have dark-colored eyes, then your doctor can detect them during an examination.

In choroidal nevus, usually, there are no other symptoms. However, sometimes there is a fluid leakage or abnormal blood vessel growth. It can also cause detached retina and vision loss. This is the reason you should go for routine fundoscopic checkups regularly to avoid any severe problems.

What Are The Complications?

Commonly eye freckles are not something you should be worried about, but some complications can also occur. Here are some of the complications that can occur.

  1. Usually, all eye freckles are non-cancerous. But it is best to get eye freckles examined by your doctor regularly. There are very slight chances for an eye freckle to develop into an eye melanoma, but it is possible. So if you notice even a small change like size, shape, and color in your eye freckle, then get it checked by your doctor. Your doctor will closely examine the changing freckle for half to one year to know whether it is cancerous or not.
  2. Suppose you go for a regular checkup and your doctor detect pigmented lesions in both your eyes. In that case, it is an indication of another problem. It indicates a hereditary condition called familial adenomatous polyposis. In FAP, there is a chance of developing colorectal cancer. In some rare cases, there is a 100 percent chance of developing colorectal cancer by the age of 40 if a person does not get his colon removed.

What Is The Treatment?

Commonly brown spot on the eye is just a spot, and it causes no harm. If your eye freckle is benign, then you should get it checked regularly every six months; otherwise, you do not have to worry about it.

There is always a chance for a nevus to become cancerous, so it is better to take all possible precautions. Exposure to sunlight can cause the formation of nevus. So to avoid any complications if you have nevus you should wear sunglasses every time you go outside.

In case of any complications like melanoma and suspicion of melanoma, your doctor will recommend removing the nevus. Depending upon the severity and condition of the patient, a specific method is used to remove nevus.

  • One method is local excision. In this method, a very small blade is used to remove the nevus. This way, only the targeted part is removed precisely.
  • The other method is argon laser photoablation. In this method, a laser is used to remove the nevus or targeted tissue.

When To See A Doctor?

For those who have eye freckles, it is recommended to get them checked after every six months. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned below, then go to your doctor.

  1. The freckle in your eye is changing its shape or color. It can be a sign of melanoma,
  2. You notice considerable changes in your vision.
  3. If you see flashing lights.
  4. If there is a pain in your eye.

In A Nutshell

Normally eye freckles are harmless, and there is no need to worry about them as long as you’re going for regular checkups. However, in case if you are diagnosed with an abnormality, then discuss it with your doctor. Know all your options, then choose the right one for yourself.

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