A nevus (plural, nevi) in the eye is a common, benign, pigmented growth, similar to a mole on your skin. A nevus can occur either in the front of your eye, around the iris or colored part of the eye, or beneath the retina in the back of the eye. A nevus beneath the retina is called a choroidal nevus. Sometimes it is called a "freckle in the eye."

While most nevi are harmless, they still need to be watched regularly because, like a skin mole, an eye nevus could possibly develop into an ocular melanoma, or cancer of the eye.