- Medically Reviewed by Mr Mfazo Hove Consultant Ophthalmologist
- Author: Chris Dunnington
- Published: November 17, 2025
- Last Updated: November 17, 2025
Eye Freckles: When to Watch, When to Worry
With awareness and the right support, you can feel at ease about your eye health, says Mfazo Hove, founder of Blue Fin Vision®
Most of us are used to keeping an eye on freckles or moles on our skin, but far fewer people realise that similar specks can appear in the eyes. These tiny brown spots, often noticed in a passing glance in the mirror or during a close-up photograph, can be surprising. They also tend to spark the same worry many of us feel when we spot something new on our skin: is this harmless, or something to pay attention to?
Eye freckles are usually nothing more than small collections of pigment cells. They can sit on the white of the eye or on the coloured iris, and for many people they’ve been there for as long as they can remember. Just like the individual flecks that make each iris unique, they’re often simply part of who you are.
What causes eye freckles?
There are a few reasons why these freckles appear. Genetics play a role; some people naturally produce more pigment. Sunlight can influence them too, particularly with long-term, unprotected UV exposure. And, as with many things, age can make existing specks more noticeable.
In most cases, these marks remain completely stable. Many stay exactly the same size, colour and shape for decades. When an eye freckle behaves like this, with a smooth outline and even colouring, it’s generally considered harmless. Most people only need to be aware of it rather than concerned by it…
