Vision scientists have found in a study that eye freckles, dark spots on the colored part of the eye (iris), are more common in people with higher exposure to sunlight. While not cancerous, eye freckles can indicate the presence or risk of sunlight-induced eye diseases such as cataract or macular degeneration.
The study examined the eyes for freckles in more than 600 people, and a questionnaire about their lifetime sun exposure and sunscreen habits. The researchers found that the development of eye freckles was correlated with increasing age, lifetime number of sunburns and a history of severe sunburns causing blisters. The results also showed that people with dark-colored eyes are less likely to develop eye freckles, as well as those who protect themselves better from the sun, such as using sunscreen or covering up.
An unexpected finding was the uneven positioning of freckles on the eye. Freckles were usually found in the lower outside (away from the nose) of each eye. The researchers said this is possible because the eyebrow and nose shield the top and inner sides of the eye from the sun, lowering exposure and the risk of developing freckles.
