Hello Sammybh and welcome to our forum, 

I am not sure why this was not picked up in previous eye tests. Perhaps you could ask your optician whether this kind of thing is routinely picked up when you have a standard test? It's good though that they have referred you to the eye hospital and that they will have a closer look at this birthmark. Try not to worry though too much or anticipate what it might be as only the experts will be able to tell you more. 

It won't be long hopefully before you get your appointment and some clarity on all this. I can imagine it must be very stressful for you especially as you did not expect anything to be flagged on your left eye. 

Keeping everything crossed for you. I hope it all turns out to be nothing to worry about. 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thank you so much I've been thinking exactly that and keeping positive. Wonderful message thank you I will keep you in touch xxx

Hi,

I think that the optician, by calling it a birthmark, has wrongly made you think it has been there all the time. These marks are commonly called an eye freckle or nevus and they can appear at any time. Like the freckles or moles on the skin, an eye (choroidal) nevus can be harmless but it needs checking out and probably monitoring over a space of time to ensure it's not changing. Opticians don't have the equipment and training to do this, only the eye consultants can, so that's why you have been referred. Hopefully it will turn out to be fine. Good luck and please let us know how you get on at your appointment,

Angie (melanoma patient)

Ahh I see yes that definately caused me confusion I wasn't aware that these things can just appear. Hoping it's nothing to worry about. Thank you

Hi Serky,

I don't know if Sammy (the poster) will be back to answer your question but I just wanted to say that it's good you went to see another optician &, if I were you, I would go get a third opinion from another optician. The fact that the second optician didn't see anything but your regular one has seen it twice would make me want to see a different optician &, if they don't see anything, it may be your optician is being over cautious. 

Opticians don't have a quota when it comes to referring to the eye clinic. They firstly have to refer to your GP and they make the referral to the eye clinic. I'm wondering if your optician is resisting referral because they are unsure of their own diagnosis.

As I've said before, it's not unusual for an eye freckle to appear at any time - they can also shrink & disappear too. If you do have an eye freckle & it's shrinking there is less chance it's anything serious as marks/moles/freckles etc that are melanoma rarely disappear (about 0.1% do). But please get another opinion from a different optician & then make a decision as to your next step. If they see the mark & think it needs further examination, go back to your regular optician & demand a referral.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (melanoma patient) 

Hi,

I don't know if anyone can help on here but I am sat worrying a little.

I had an opticians appointment today, not been for 2 or 3 years as I don't wear glasses. I am 43 and always been slightly short sighted in my left eye and that's it, so no need for glasses or anything.  I booked an appointment as with my age, my eyesight has gotten slightly worse.

Anyways, I was told today that I have a birthmark on my left eye - she said also known as a vevus I think and that they need to keep an eye on it. I said Id never been told that before which was odd, and she said maybe previous opticians may have thought it not important to mention. She asked if I ever saw strobes or orbs and I said orbs sometimes. 

So, I've left after them saying I still don't need glasses and that I don't need to see them again for another 2 years. But now I am worried about this birthmark....should I be? Surely if something to worry about they wouldn't have just sent me away? 

I would get a second opinion from another optician. As I've said in previous replies, marks behind the eye can appear and disappear all the time, just like they do on the skin. It may have appeared in the last 2 years but you don't want to wait and worry for another 2 years. See what another optician says and hopefully it will be fine. If they see the naevus but don't think it's worrying at the moment, your only other option is to pay privately to see an eye consultant who can hopefully put your mind at rest.

Thanks. Thing is, she said it was nothing to worry about but just something to keep an eye on (parson the pun!!). It would mean more cost going for another check up. 

Am I worrying about nothing?