Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety Print An Overview of Choroidal Nevus What it means to have a freckle in the eye Written by linkedin Written by Troy Bedinghaus, OD Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association. Learn about our editorial policy Troy Bedinghaus, OD Updated on October 24, 2019 More in Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety Glaucoma Cataracts Macular Degeneration Vision Loss Dry Eye Syndrome Contact Lenses Glasses Exams & Procedures Vision Improvement Surgery Eye Anatomy Kid's Eye Health View All In This Article Table of Contents Expand Choroidal Nevus Symptoms Treatment Possible Complications View All Back To Top You've just completed your annual eye exam and your doctor says you passed with flying colors. However, while examining the inside of your eyes, he discovered a small choroidal nevus. Although the name sounds complicated, a choroidal nevus is simply a freckle inside the eye. Verywell / Jessica Olah What Is a Choroidal Nevus? A choroidal nevus is the name given to a spot, freckle or mole that appears inside the eye or on the eye's surface. Sometimes detected during a dilated eye examination, these pigmented spots are usually flat and slate-greyish in color. Choroidal nevi are commonly found in the choroid, a blood vessel-rich layer lying between the retina and the sclera. Although they are not necessarily a "normal" finding in our eyes, they are quite common and may not represent anything wrong with the eye. Nevi vary from patient to patient but most look very similar and have certain traits that eye doctors are very familiar with. Your doctor will document this finding in your chart if it is detected during a routine eye exam. Symptoms of Choroidal Nevi Most choroidal nevi do not cause symptoms. Most nevi are discovered during a routine eye examination. If nevi grow and disrupt the surrounding tissue, they may cause fluid or blood to leak out of the tissue. If this occurs, it can cause a retinal tear or detachment. Often, people with a retinal tear or detachment will complain of seeing flashes of light or new floaters in their visual field. Choroidal nevi are fairly uncommon. Many of us have retinal pigmentation variations that are more common but true choroidal nevi are fairly uncommon, especially large nevi. The best recommendation is to have annual eye examinations which include dilating the eyes with special eye drops. If you have a nevus, then your doctor may want to see you every three to six months for the first year or two when first identified. He or she will want to keep a close eye on possible changes. Treatment Choroidal nevi are not usually harmful. However, just like a freckle on your skin, if it changes in color, size or shape, you should let your doctor or a dermatologist know about it. It is difficult to observe a freckle in your own eye. You should follow your eye doctor’s recommendations on when to come back or how to observe it in the future. Typical treatment involves taking a digital photograph for documentation. Your doctor will then schedule you to come back in 3 to 6 months to look for possible changes. If your doctor has seen you for several years, then he or she may feel comfortable monitoring the nevus every 12 months. If it appears unusual, however, you may be asked to return in a shorter period of time. Occasionally, certain diagnostic tests may be ordered, or you may be referred to a retinal specialist for a second opinion. Possible Complications Choroidal nevi are benign, however, your eye doctor is trained to watch closely for the development of a choroidal melanoma, a tumor found in the eye. In rare cases, the nevus must be biopsied and examined for melanoma (cancer) cells. Choroidal melanomas are malignant tumors and must be treated. They may spread (metastasize) to other parts of your body and can be fatal. A Word From Verywell If you are diagnosed with a choroidal nevus, ask your doctor to give you a picture of it. Date the picture and keep safe with your medical files. If you ever change eye doctors or have a need to see an eye specialist, it will come in very handy. A documented picture will save your eye doctor time by providing evidence that your condition has been detected previously, has not grown and is, most importantly, benign. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Sowka, Joseph W. OD, FAAO, Andrew S. Gurwood, OD, FAAO, and Alan G. Kabat, OD, FAAO. Handbook of Ocular Disease Management, Choroidal Nevus. 2000-2001. Continue Reading