Nevus in the eye is a frequent, benign pigmented lesion, like a nevus on the skin. The nevus can appear in the front or back segment of the eye, around the iris or in the colored part of the eye, or under the retina. The nevus under the retina is called a choroid nevus.
Even though most nevi are completely benign, they must be examined regularly, as ocular nevus could progress to ocular melanoma or cancer of the eye.
The nevus is caused by cells called melanocytes which produce pigment. Most of the time, the melanocytes are spread evenly, but sometimes they can form groups, which cause the development of nevi. The nevus almost never causes any symptoms. Very rarely can a choroid nevus leak fluid or cause the growth of abnormal blood vessels. This can cause retinal detachment, blinking lights and vision loss.
More nevi do not require treatment, and it is generally not recommended to remove them surgically. In rare cases, when the nevus is found in the front part of the eye and it becomes a cosmetic problem, surgery can be done. A nevus placed in the inner part of the eye should not be removed, as it can be dangerous for the health of the eye during surgery.