A grey spot in your vision is often a shadow or disturbance floating within the clear structure of the eye or a physical mark on the eye’s surface. These possibilities range from common, harmless age-related changes to serious conditions requiring urgent care. Understanding the difference is important, but a professional eye examination is the only way to accurately determine the cause of any new visual disturbance or physical spot.
Common Causes of Spots in Vision
The most frequent reason for seeing a grey spot that seems to drift and move is the presence of vitreous floaters. The vitreous is the clear substance filling the center of the eye. Over time, as a normal part of aging, this gel begins to liquefy and shrink.
As the vitreous shrinks, collagen fibers clump together, forming microscopic opacities. These clumps cast shadows onto the retina, which the brain perceives as specks, strings, or grey spots floating across the visual field. Floaters are particularly noticeable when looking at a bright, plain background.
This age-related change often leads to a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD), where the vitreous gel separates from the retina. A PVD causes a sudden increase in floaters, sometimes appearing as a large, ring-shaped grey spot. Although PVD is a harmless aging process, the sudden onset of floaters warrants an examination to ensure the retina remains intact.
Serious Ocular Conditions Requiring Immediate Attention
A grey spot or shadow can signal a medical emergency involving the retina, such as a retinal tear or detachment. This occurs when the shrinking vitreous pulls too hard on the retina, causing it to separate from the underlying supportive tissue.
In this scenario, the grey spot is often described as a fixed shadow or a “curtain” blocking part of the field of vision. Unlike floaters, which drift, this shadow is stationary or progressively enlarges, indicating a loss of function in the detached area. The detachment separates the retinal cells from their blood supply, requiring prompt treatment.
These conditions are frequently accompanied by a sudden shower of new floaters, sometimes appearing as dark specks from released pigment or blood cells. Flashes of light, known as photopsias, may also be present because the mechanical pulling stimulates the light-sensitive tissue.
Understanding Pigmented Spots on the Eye Surface
If the grey spot is a physical mark visible on the white part of the eye or the iris, it is likely a pigmented lesion known as an ocular nevus. These nevi are clumps of melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment, and they can be found on the conjunctiva, the iris, or the choroid layer at the back of the eye.
A choroidal nevus, located under the retina, is often flat and gray and is typically discovered during a routine dilated eye exam. Conjunctival nevi, visible on the white of the eye, can range in color and may lighten or darken over time. While most nevi are benign, they require monitoring due to the risk of developing into ocular melanoma.
The key characteristic of a nevus is its fixed nature; it does not move or drift like a floater. The eye doctor will photograph the spot and monitor it for changes in size, shape, color, or elevation. Other external spots can include foreign bodies or growths like a pinguecula, which is a yellowish patch of tissue that may appear grayish.
When to Seek Professional Evaluation
Any new or rapidly changing grey spot in your vision necessitates a comprehensive eye examination. Immediate emergency evaluation is required for a sudden onset of multiple new floaters, the appearance of flashing lights, or a fixed grey shadow or curtain blocking part of your vision.
For a suspected ocular nevus, a non-urgent appointment should be scheduled for a baseline assessment. During this visit, an eye care professional will perform a dilated eye exam to inspect the retina and document the spot’s characteristics. This evaluation helps differentiate harmless spots from those requiring more frequent surveillance or treatment.