What is a nevus on the retina?

What is a nevus on the retina?

What Is a Nevus? 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. A nevus (plural: nevi) can be in the front of your eye, around the iris, or under the retina at the back of the eye.

Is an eye nevus a tumor?

Choroidal nevus is typically a pigmented tumor of the blood vessel layer (choroid) beneath the retina. A choroidal nevus is typically gray but can be brown, yellow or variably pigmented.

Does nevus affect vision?

Almost always, a nevus causes no visual symptoms. Rarely, a nevus can cause a blind spot in the vision of one eye, but this rarely affects a patient’s day to day vision. Sometimes visual changes are a sign of other problems or that a nevus has begun to change into a malignant choroidal melanoma.

What causes nevus in eye?

Where do eye freckles come from? Often nevi (especially iris nevi) result from sun exposure, just like freckles do for some people. You may be at risk if you have a light complexion and light-colored eyes (blue or green). Babies might be born with conjunctival nevi, or this type might also form during childhood.

What is a suspicious nevus?

Features of the nevus can be very helpful to predict the risk of growth. These features include: the size and thickness, the presence of orange pigment, fluid leakage over the surface of the nevus, presence of drusen, and location within the eye. Larger and thicker nevi are commonly referred to as a suspicious nevus.

Can nevus be removed?

Small- and medium-sized nevi are generally harmless but can be removed for aesthetic reasons. Removal of a small nevus consists of a simple excision, cutting out the affected area and stitching the surrounding skin back together. Removing a large nevus is a much more daunting process.

How common are retinal nevi?

The choroid tissue has the highest concentration of blood flow in the body. (pigment) producing cells located in the choroid layer of the back of the eye. Choroidal nevi are relatively common and occur in approximately 6.5\% of the Caucasian population and about 3-4\% of the general population.

How worried should I be about an eye freckle?

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 is retinal lesion?

Retinal lesions are tumours that form in the eyes. They are treated with radiation therapy. The most common eye lesion is choroidal nevus, a benign growth that forms at the back of the eyes when pigment cells accumulate. Its development is associated with some systemic conditions, such as choroidal neurofibroma.

How common is eye nevus?

Iris nevus Approximately 6 in 10 people have one. Research has associated increased sun exposure to formation of new iris nevi, but more studies need to be done. They’re always flat and don’t pose any risk. These are different from raised masses on the iris or iris melanoma.

Can an eye nevus grow?

AT A GLANCE Choroidal nevus generally remains relatively stable over time, with a slight potential for growth into melanoma. Generally, nevi that demonstrate enlargement of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm over 10 years or more represent benign growth without malignant behavior.

What layer of the retina is a nevus?

Behind the retina is the choroid, a layer of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the eye. Nevi that develop in this layer are choroidal nevi. These are usually harmless, but should be monitored regularly because they have the potential to evolve into an aggressive cancer called melanoma.