It could be a freckle. It may also be ocular melanomas, a rare form of cancer. Eye specialists will monitor the spot and may recommend treatment if the cancerous growth is detected.
You may be worried if you notice a brown spot in your mirror. What could it be, and how did it happen? The brown area can appear as a splotch on the colored part (iris) of the eye or the transparent film that covers the eyeball.
In most cases, a brown spot inside the eye, or a mole, is not harmful. It could be a cancerous growth known as Ocular Melanoma in rare cases.
This article will provide more information about these conditions, their causes, and possible treatment options. Discussing them with your eye doctor or care team would be best.
What is a brown spot in the white of your eye?
It’s most likely a Nevus. (Or nevi if you have more than one). This is also called a mole or eye freckle. It looks like a freckle but appears in the eye.
The freckles may appear in several places, including:
The white part of the eye.
Clear covering of the eyeball (conjunctival Nevus).
The iris is the colored part of your eyes (iris nevus).
The brown spot may be a sporadic type of cancer called ocular Melanoma. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, this is a rare type of cancer with an incidence rate of 5 per million adults.
The middle layer of the retina can be affected, but it may not show up when you look in the mirror.
You can see it
The white part is called the Sclera. The Sclera is the outer protective layer of the eyes. It also contains the muscles that move your eyeball. The majority of the eye’s surface is made up of the Sclera.
Causes
Melanocytes are the cells that make up a nevus. The same cells that make melanin pigment for our hair, skin, and eyes.
Normal melanocytes are evenly distributed throughout the body. They can form nevi or freckles when they clump. Alternatively, nevi may develop later in life or be present at birth.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there could be a connection between ultraviolet light exposure and the development of nevi.
Ocular Melanoma starts in melanocytes. The cause of ocular melanomas is unknown. However, multiple factors are believed to be involved, including environmental and genetic ones. DNA mutations usually cause cells that become cancerous.
Other risk factors include having fair skin and light-colored or blue eyes. Another is a condition called atypical mole, also known by the name dysplastic Nevus.
Other symptoms of eye disease that you might notice
Nevi usually have no symptoms. You may only see it when you look in the mirror.
Initial symptoms of ocular melanomas may be absent. If you start to experience symptoms, it could be a sign of another eye problem. It’s vital to consult your eye doctor if you notice any changes in your vision or eyes.
The following symptoms may be present in ocular melanomas:
Any changes in the size or shape of the pupil.
Bulging eyes.
Changes in the position of your eyeball in the socket.
Dark spot on the iris, which gets more extensive.
Flashing lights or floaters.
Blurred vision or loss of sight.
When should you seek medical attention?
Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you notice a brown spot in your eye.
Your eye care team should monitor the spot regularly if it is an eye freckle.
A brown spot on the eye is unlikely to develop into ocular melanomas, but it can become cancerous over time. Your doctor will create a treatment plan if an eye freckle is found to be cancerous.
Consult a doctor if you notice any of the symptoms above or if your vision or eyes are affected by pain or other changes.
What is the best way to remove a brown stain from your eye?
Your doctor or eye care team will not remove a harmless brown spot because they don’t want to damage your eye.
They may recommend different treatments if the cancerous spot is found.
What is the treatment for a brown mark on my eye?
A doctor will usually monitor a nevus every year and take photos. They can compare the images and make sure that there are no signs of cancer or growth.
Non-cancerous nevi can only be removed when they are on the outer edge of the eyes and affect the appearance of the eyes.
Treatment may be needed if the spot is an ocular melanoma. Some doctors will suggest that a tiny melanoma be watched and waited.
Radiation therapy and surgery are the main treatment options available for ocular melanomas. It is commonly used to deliver radiation using brachytherapy. Inserting a disk of radioactive material into the eye near the tumor is the procedure. The disk is left in the eye socket for a couple of days. Occasionally, external beam radiotherapy is used in place.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Trusted Source approved Kimmtrak in 2022 as an immunotherapy for uveal melanomas that cannot be surgically removed. To receive this treatment, however, you must undergo a blood test to determine if you are positive for a human leukocyte antibody.
A doctor may remove the affected eye area or, in rare cases, even the whole eye.
Takeaway
A brown spot could be an eye nevus or a freckle. Clusters of pigment-producing melanocytes can cause eye freckles. Usually, there is no need for treatment. Your doctor and the team of eye care professionals will monitor your eye freckles to see if they change.
If the cancer is ocular melanomas, then it must be treated. It is a rare form of cancer that will require treatment. This may include radiation, surgery, or immunotherapy.
Did you know that you can get freckles inside your eyes? A nevus is an eye freckle (plural: nevi). Different types of freckles may appear on other parts of your eye.
They are usually harmless, but a doctor should monitor them because they may develop into a cancerous type called Melanoma.
