Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.
A wart on the eyelid is a common, non-cancerous skin growth that can appear on the eyelid margin or the surrounding skin. These growths are typically flesh-colored or slightly pink, and they often have a rough, textured surface.
read more about warts on eyelid ...The cause is infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters the skin through small breaks or cuts and causes the outer layer of skin cells to grow rapidly, forming the visible wart.1 Warts are highly contagious and are often transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated objects, such as towels or makeup applicators.2 The period of infectivity can last for months or years.
Symptoms are usually minimal, with the main concern being cosmetic appearance or physical irritation. The wart may cause localized itching, mild irritation, or, if located directly on the eyelid margin, it can cause the eyelashes to turn inward, rubbing against the cornea. The growths are generally slow and harmless. However, warts near the tear duct can interfere with tear drainage, leading to watery eyes.
Diagnosis is clinical, based on the visual appearance and texture of the growth. Treatment is necessary if the wart is growing rapidly, causing visual obstruction, or causing irritation. Treatment options involve freezing (cryotherapy), electrocautery, or minor surgical excision, which must be performed by an ophthalmologist to avoid scarring the delicate eyelid skin.
Necessary precautions are vital to prevent spreading the HPV virus. Individuals must avoid touching the wart and wash their hands frequently after any contact with the growth. Towels, eye makeup, and applicators should not be shared, and the use of protective bandages may be necessary if the growth is itchy.
Home treatment for eyelid warts is strongly advised against. Products designed for general skin warts are often too harsh for the thin eyelid skin and can cause severe chemical burns, scarring, or permanent damage to the eye itself. Eyelid treatments must be performed by a medical professional.
No, the vast majority of eyelid warts are benign (non-cancerous) growths.
Yes, warts are caused by a virus (HPV) and are highly contagious through direct contact.
Yes, they can be removed easily in an office procedure, but only by an ophthalmologist.
Consult an eye doctor if you have a wart on your eyelid margin that is rubbing your eye. This can cause "Filiform Keratitis", chronic corneal irritation. Do NOT use over-the-counter wart removers on your eyelids; these chemicals are highly acidic and will cause a permanent chemical burn to your eye.
AAO. Eyelid Warts (Verrucae) (aao.org). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Common Warts (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. HPV and Skin (clevelandclinic.org). 2024.
StatPearls. Eyelid Lesions (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2024.