ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Fuchs spot

A fuchs spot is a little mark that sometimes appears on the back of your eye. It happens when the cells that help you see in the dark stop working right.

You know how when it's dark outside and you can't see as well? That's because your eyes need some special cells called 'retinal pigment epithelium' (RPE cells) to help you see in the dark.

But sometimes, those cells can start to break down. Maybe it happens because you're getting older, or maybe you have a disease that makes it happen faster.

When those RPE cells break down, it can cause a little spot on the back of your eye. You might not even notice it at first because it doesn't usually hurt or affect your vision very much. In fact, some people never know they have a fuchs spot!

But if your eye doctor sees a fuchs spot during an eye exam, they might want to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get any worse. So, the fuchs spot itself is not really something to worry about, but it's something your doctor will want to keep an eye on to make sure you stay healthy.
Related topics others have asked about: