New research from the Medical University of Graz, Austria, has found dark spots on the iris — or "eye freckles" — are more frequently found in people with higher lifetime exposure to sunlight, and could indicate the presence or risk of sunlight-triggered eye diseases like cataract or macular degeneration.
For the study, researchers reportedly examined the eyes of over 600 swimmers at public pools in Austria for freckles, and also had them fill out a questionnaire about their lifetime sun exposure and sun protection habits. Researchers reportedly found the development of eye freckles correlated with increasing age, lifetime number of sunburns and a history of severe sunburns resulting in blisters. They also reportedly found people with dark colored eyes and those who maintained better sun protection habits were less likely to have freckles.
Additionally, the researchers reportedly found eye freckles were most commonly found in the lower outer quadrant (away from the nose) of each eye. Researchers believe this may due to sun exposure shielding provided by the eyebrow and nose.
The study was recently published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, published by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).
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Source: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)