What are these brown spots in my eyes?

brown spotsYou may have noticed these brown spots in your own eye while looking in the mirror or in someone else’s eye when you’re making close eye contact with them. It’s probably best not to comment to another person about any eye spots you notice, but if you’re looking at your own reflection, it’s normal to ask what’s going on with these brown spots and why.

Brown Spots on Your Eyes

Your first thought is probably, “Are these brown spots dangerous?” Really the answer could be yes or no. There are many reasons for discoloration on the sclera or the white part of your eyeball or within the iris, the colored part of your eye.

These spots are slight discolorations due to pigmentation in the eye and are referred to as “choroidal nevus.” The easiest thing to compare them to would be freckles, because they are caused by the same substance, melanin. Eye freckles can range from light gray to black and vary in size and shape as you grow and age. They typically show up around the same time as skin freckles, usually during the first decade of life.

It’s important to keep track of any changes in the size and color of your eye spot. Many things can darken the spot including sunlight, medications or hormonal changes such as pregnancy. Once they occur, they don’t fade or disappear and cannot be removed, unless there is a medical reason to do so. These spots are typically benign and won’t cause any type of vision impairment or pain. Troublesome spots or eye spots that transform into a malignant mass and be treated with surgery or radiation therapy. To lessen the frequency at which they occur, you can limit the amount of sun exposure your eyes endure by wearing a great pair of full coverage sunglasses.

If you develop any type of eye spot, please visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist so they can assess the situation. Remember that eye spots can happen to anyone, but show up more frequently in those of African descent and are also more common on those who naturally freckle a great deal in the sun.

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42 Responses

  1. Diane says:

    I just want to say, thank you for this article. Since, I haven’t seen an eye doctor in years(can’t afford it). I noticed this brown spot on my eye, a few years ago. And, I’ve always wondered what it was. Why I just now searched it, after so long, I don’t know, but I’m glad I did. I now have my answer. Thanks again, and I hope soon, I will be able to go get an eye exam.

    • Stacey says:

      Eye exams at America’s Best are just $45 (or free if you purchase two pairs of glasses – starting at $69.95). Hope you’re able to get your exam soon!

  2. Mina says:

    I have had one of these on my eye since I was a cute little tot! I never knew what it was so thanks for the info 🙂

  3. chandni says:

    Thank you for the consoling information. I would also like to know if the spots caused by injuries can be cured.

  4. bilal says:

    i have two of these one in each eye, they had me worried sick.thanks a lot

  5. Michelle says:

    Eye doctor found brown spot on my eye. In our family there is a history of melanoma. My brother died 3 years ago. Should I be concern?

    • Andy says:

      Hi Michelle! That’s a very good question. Unfortunately, we can’t give medical opinions for individual patients online. We would recommend following up with the eye doctor who found the spot, or getting a second opinion from another medical professional, maybe your family physician or an ophthalmologist. Thank you for your question, I hope everything works out for the best!

  6. Lydia says:

    Hi

    I want to know if the spots can be treated without surgery ? And is it risky to do the surgery to remove it??

    • Andy says:

      Hi Lydia,

      Thank you for your question. Every medical situation is different, and it wouldn’t be fair for me to give you advice on the subject without having the right amount of information. The best thing to do would be to call your optometrist and get his or her professional opinion. Can I help you find one of ours?

  7. Shawna says:

    Hello
    I read on another site that fish oil will help with brown spots on the eye. Is there any truth to that?

    • Andy says:

      Hi Shawna,

      Fish oil has a number of health benefits, including being full of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to pigmentation. Still, I recommend checking with your doctor before making any changes to your diet. Thank you for your question!

      -Andy

  8. Ellen says:

    can the brown spot be removed? If yes, how? I wish i could remove it

    • Andy says:

      Hi Ellen,

      Brown spots usually can’t be removed, but most of the time they are purely cosmetic. If you feel concerned about them, I recommend seeing an eyecare professional and having them take a look. Let me know if you’d like me to help you find one. Thanks for your question!

      -Andy

  9. Holly says:

    I had a rather large brown spot appear on my right when I was in the second grade (so 7 years old) and it disappeared about 4 years ago at the age of 42. I have a complicated medical history to include fibromuscular dysplasia (which caused 2 strokes from 5 cerebral aneurysms, 2 craniotomies, renal angioplasty, breast cancer and ehlors danlos syndrome. I just wonder if the appearance and subsequent disappearance of this spot has any relation. I do have Sicca as well.

    • Cindy says:

      Hi holly, I too have Ehlors Danlos 3. I also wondered if these spots in my iris is something to worry about. It seems like I am getting more lately as my disease has been getting much worse. Did you find out anything about these spots?

  10. petal james says:

    since i knew my self the whites of my eyes looked slightly brown and it has two three dark brown spots. my dad has the same kind of eyes and so did my dad’s whole side of family. thanks for this article i was wondering if something was wrong with me

  11. Prince says:

    My son is 8 months old, he’s having that kind of a mark and it seems to be changing the shape as he grows. Is it the same as the one caused by the sunlight?

    • Stacey says:

      Thanks for writing. We would recommend having an optometrist or your pediatrician have a look at your son’s eyes.

  12. Krys says:

    Just a note here, but if you need to see an eye doctor for these (as I have had to take my son for his) – you should be seeing an OPTHALMOLOGIST, not an Optometrist. There is a HUGE difference. Optometrists are strictly for vision needs, ie: glasses or contacts. Opthalmologists are doctors of the eye, and all that includes. Blood vessels, diseases, tissue, I mean everything. Optometrists will most likely see you, and even give you an opinion, but they are NOT medical doctors – they have not had the same rigorous schooling or training that an MD has. So please take yourselves to an actual doctor of the eye to be evaluated.

  13. Just a regular Person (maybe) says:

    I had there brown spots since as long as i can remember(remembered tellimg people when in1st grade). This helped a lot 😀

  14. Jenell Carpenter says:

    Can you use your same old lenses even if they are the same Priscribed to wear .

    • Claire Rozeman says:

      Hi Jenell,
      If your prescription hasn’t changed, it’s probably OK to use contacts you’ve previously purchased as long as they’re not expired. Check the expiration date on the boxes to ensure you’re not using expired lenses that will be less effective. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

  15. Dariel says:

    This was really helpful, I actually thought it was dangerous, but now that I read this I feel much better.😉🤗☺

  16. Raj says:

    I noticed a brow spot close to Iris when I felt something bothering me in the left eye, just after rigorously washing my face with a cruelty free face wash on 05/29. My last eye exam was Sept 2015, It wasn’t mentioned then in my records at the Optometrist. She scared me to death, she diagnosed it as PAM, and also said they may eventually end up removing the eye. Are you guys all talking about PAM here ? or is my condition different. She referred me to an MD for a follow up.

    • Claire Rozeman says:

      Hi Raj, This blog is not meant to serve as medical advice, so we highly encourage you to follow your doctor’s instructions on seeing an ophthalmologist. This blog is about benign brown spots of pigmentation that many people experience on their eye. Thank you for your question, but we suggest you consult a doctor about your concerns!

  17. Snigdha Mondal says:

    I have seen a dark spot in my caruncle area of my eyes for some 1yrs & I am really worried about it…
    Is it really bad for my eyes?&
    What are the solution I have take?

    • Claire Rozeman says:

      We suggest visiting an optometrist at one of our stores and letting them know about the problem and how long you’ve been experiencing it. They’ll also be able to refer you to a different doctor if further steps are required. Thank you.

  18. Sonya says:

    I remember my 8yr son had a dark brown spot on his left eyeball I took him to see a optometrist in San Diego .ca .He had surgery to remove it 20 yrs ago I still rememher the Doctor’s Name Doc Liker ,happy to hear his Office is still thier..

  19. Dana Nduta says:

    can this professional eye doctors be found in kenya,i really need to get rid of this scaring brown sports in my eyes

  20. Moses says:

    I tried wearing contact lenses 6 years ago but lived to regret this as my eyes developed an irreversible allergy to the contact solution. My eyes became inflamed and these brown spots developed all over the eye white. I stopped use within a month. Since then the brown spots havn’t disappeared and each eye has generally lost its natural sparkling white color. Some days it seems the blood vessels constrict and the brown becomes less visible but for the most part the eye is always inflamed and teary. Don’t know if i’l ever have my natural eyes back.

  21. rosie says:

    hi. idk how did this happen but when I woke up this morning I notice a little dot my eye and its bothering me. I ask my parent what it is and they said its because too much using of gadgets.
    is it true? how do I get rid of this?

    • Claire Rozeman says:

      If you’re having any eye issues, we’d suggest making an appointment at your local America’s Best location to speak with one of our doctors. Please let us know if we can be of any more help!

  22. layla says:

    i have never in my life been to an eye doctor and i have a small brownish-redish spot on my left eye. I have no clue what to do and i dont know if it is the same as what the website is describing because there is only one of them. If it helps i am 11 years old and my eyes are blue, please somebody help figure this out.

    • Claire Rozeman says:

      Hi Layla, We’d suggest scheduling an eye exam with an optometrist so they can evaluate the spot on your eye. You can visit americasbest.com to find your closest location and schedule an exam with a doctor there.

  23. Portia says:

    My name is Portia I am very worried my son eye’s is brown he was born with black and white eye’s but the white layer of eyes was change to brown could you please tell me how can I bring back my son eye’s to the right colours.

    • Claire Rozeman says:

      Hi Portia, We suggest visiting an Optometrist if you have these types of questions about your son. We have stores all across the US, and if you aren’t able to schedule an exam at one of our stores, we suggest any other Optometrist in your area.

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