Retinal Nevus

What Is a Retinal Nevus?

A retinal nevus is a common, coloured growth on or in your eye. Sometimes called a freckle of the eye, it is just like a mole on your skin. A retinal nevus (plural: nevi) can be in the front of your eye, around the iris, or under the retina at the back of the eye.

Why Does a Retinal Nevus Need to Be Checked?

A retinal nevus is made up of melanin-producing cells. Melanin is the pigment that gives our hair, skin, and eyes colour. Most of the time, these cells are spread evenly throughout body tissue. However, sometimes, these cells can clump together and form nevus. People can be born with harmless eye nevi (plural) but there is a risk the retinal nevus can become cancerous.

It is important to monitor an eye nevus because, like a skin mole, it could become cancerous. There may be an association between exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and developing nevi. Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV light is always recommended.

How Do We Screen for A Retinal Nevus?

Initial treatment of cancerous melanomas at the back of the eye can help preserve vision as well as save the eye itself. However, it is difficult to distinguish small melanomas from benign moles.

At Eye Academy, we dilate your pupils and assess the back of the eye with a high-powered lens. We image the back of the eye using a Spectralis OCT-HRA eye scanner and a specialist wide-field view lens. The nevus is then graded using the MOLES scoring system developed at Oxford eye hospital.

The scoring system categorises the nevus by how likely it is to become cancerous.

What Is the Treatment for A Retinal Nevus?

Most retinal nevi do not require any treatment. Some are at a higher risk for growing into a melanoma and these nevi should be monitored carefully by your Optometrist.

How Often Should I Get Re-Examined to Know if My Retinal Nevus Is Changing or Growing?

All retinal nevi should be examined at least once a year, unless your Optometrist recommends more frequent checks. For example, if your retinal nevus is particularly large or thick, has orange pigment, or is leaking fluid, then it is more likely to grow into a melanoma.