Mucosal nevus in the eye, must I remove it?
Jan 14, 2025
Recently, the news that a popular actor has removed the conjunctival nevus has become a hot topic, and public interest in the conjunctival nevus is increasing. Conjunctival nevus occurs in the conjunctival epithelial layer covering the whites of the eyes and usually comes in a variety of colors, ranging from yellow to dark brown, which are clearly distinguished, and may become lighter or darker over time.
Melanin cells, which determine the color of our hair, skin, and iris, are also distributed in the conjunctiva, and for various reasons, these melanin cells can proliferate excessively in specific areas of the conjunctiva and be observed as dots on the whites.
It is naturally occurring or acquired due to ultraviolet rays, hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy or puberty.
Although it does not affect the function of the eyes or accompany pain, treatment of the conjunctival nevus is often considered mainly for aesthetic reasons. There is a method of removing the epithelium with nevus by burning or shaving it using an argon laser or a high-frequency Radiowave Electrocautery, and there is a method of surgically removing the nevus if it is large or requires a biopsy.
Procedures using lasers or electric scavengers have the advantage of short procedures of around 10 minutes and being able to return to daily life immediately. In order to expect more satisfactory treatment effects, care should be taken to avoid UV exposure after surgery and not rub or irritate the eyes.
Conjunctival nevus is likely to progress to benign non-neoplastic lesions or malignant melanoma with less than 1% probability. If the existing conjunctival nevus is observed to grow in size and color, or if pain, glare, or vision loss are accompanied, there is a possibility of malignant lesions, so in this case, you should visit an ophthalmologist immediately for a detailed examination and consider surgical resection if necessary.
"Conjunctival nevus are generally known to cause discomfort in daily life and are unlikely to lead to ophthalmic diseases, but many patients come to the hospital considering removal to maintain cosmetic clean eyes," said Park Sun-kyung, a specialist at the Corneal Center at Kim Ophthalmology Hospital. "It is important to consult with medical staff with abundant clinical experience and determine appropriate treatment methods through detailed examination."
Melanin cells, which determine the color of our hair, skin, and iris, are also distributed in the conjunctiva, and for various reasons, these melanin cells can proliferate excessively in specific areas of the conjunctiva and be observed as dots on the whites.
It is naturally occurring or acquired due to ultraviolet rays, hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy or puberty.
Although it does not affect the function of the eyes or accompany pain, treatment of the conjunctival nevus is often considered mainly for aesthetic reasons. There is a method of removing the epithelium with nevus by burning or shaving it using an argon laser or a high-frequency Radiowave Electrocautery, and there is a method of surgically removing the nevus if it is large or requires a biopsy.
Procedures using lasers or electric scavengers have the advantage of short procedures of around 10 minutes and being able to return to daily life immediately. In order to expect more satisfactory treatment effects, care should be taken to avoid UV exposure after surgery and not rub or irritate the eyes.
Conjunctival nevus is likely to progress to benign non-neoplastic lesions or malignant melanoma with less than 1% probability. If the existing conjunctival nevus is observed to grow in size and color, or if pain, glare, or vision loss are accompanied, there is a possibility of malignant lesions, so in this case, you should visit an ophthalmologist immediately for a detailed examination and consider surgical resection if necessary.
"Conjunctival nevus are generally known to cause discomfort in daily life and are unlikely to lead to ophthalmic diseases, but many patients come to the hospital considering removal to maintain cosmetic clean eyes," said Park Sun-kyung, a specialist at the Corneal Center at Kim Ophthalmology Hospital. "It is important to consult with medical staff with abundant clinical experience and determine appropriate treatment methods through detailed examination."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
