Treatment for an eye lesion will vary depending on the underlying causes, and methods of treatment can range from observation only to invasive surgeries. Most lesions are benign and many cause no symptoms. These usually require not treatment, although sometimes eye drops may be used to prevent discomfort. Benign lesions often disappear on their own.
Eye lesions can include any discoloration, injury, sore, or bump found on or near the eye. Freckles and moles may also appear on the iris of the eye, and these are generally harmless. Lesions that are flat, non-painful, and benign are often left alone. Many of them stop growing on their own and never cause any problems. Other may eventually affect vision, so they have to be removed.
Any cancerous or potentially cancerous eye lesion will also typically be removed. This is done via surgery, usually with a laser. Whether or not surgery is performed may depend on the size and location of the eye lesion, as well as whether or not it is growing rapidly or appears cancerous. A biopsy may be performed to detect cancer before surgery is performed, but sometimes it is simpler to remove the lesion immediately.
Many times an eye lesion will not be noticeable or detectable without medical equipment and a trained eye. For this reason, it is recommended that everyone receive annual eye exams. This not only helps catch vision problems before they become serious but also help a doctor discover pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions on the eye.
Eye lesions may also indicate an injury to the eye. This may be caused by dust particles or other debris entering scraping the iris or cornea, or by some sort of blunt force against the eye. Treatment may include steroid eye drops or antibacterial eye drops. Many injuries heal on their own and no treatment is needed.
Freckles and moles on the eye are fairly common and may occur in people of any age or health. Like with other moles and freckles, those which occur on the eye are generally harmless and they do not typically cause any health complications. Occasionally, an eye mole may progress and become melanoma or another form of cancer. This is rare, but may be more common in those who have a family history of skin cancer.
To prevent the development of a cancerous eye lesion, wearing proper eye protection while out in the sun. Sunglasses should have ultraviolet light protection and they should cover the entire eye for maximum benefit. Those who wear glasses during the day may be able to find transitions lenses which become darker in bright light.