Your eye is a wondrous -- but delicate -- organ made of many parts that are critical to preserving vision. Bumps on the ocular surface can distort visual images and interfere with your ability to focus clearly. Some eye bumps cause pain and emotional discomfort due to their cosmetic appearance.
Eye Anatomy
The orb of your eye is hollow and filled with gel-like liquid called vitreous and aqueous humors. The inside lining of your eye, or retina, contains an abundance of sensory receptors and nerves. Beyond the retina lies a vascular, middle layer containing the choroid, ciliary body and colored part of your eye, or iris. The fibrous, protective outer layer of your eyeball consists of the white part of your eye, or sclera, and the cornea -- a dome-shaped, clear layer that covers your iris and pupil. The sclera and cornea are the two areas in which surface lesions such as bumps are most likely to appear.
Ocular Herpes
The National Eye Institute describes several corneal diseases that cause clear, blister-like lesions. Ocular herpes is an eye infection that causes ulcers in the outer layer of your cornea. The disease can spread to deeper corneal layers if you do not seek treatment. Ocular herpes -- also known as herpes keratitis -- is caused by either of two different herpes simplex viruses, or HSV: Type I and Type II. Type I HSV also causes the common cold sore or fever blister; type II HSV causes genital herpes. Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus, or HSZ -- the same virus that causes shingles and chickenpox -- can cause a rash of small blisters around your eye that could affect the cornea.
Fuchs' Dystrophy
Fuchs' dystrophy is another condition that causes painful corneal lesions. The tendency for this rare disorder can be inherited. According to MayoClinic.com, its true cause is not always known. Fuchs' dystrophy is a serious disorder that can cause blindness. Symptoms generally appear in people over 50 years of age.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, is also called erythema multiforme major. Although SJS is primarily a skin disorder, it can also cause serious eye problems: conjunctivitis, iritis, corneal blisters and erosions. You can get SJS after having the mumps or a viral infection. You can also develop SJS if you are allergic to sulfa drugs or other medications, according to National Eye Institute.
Pinguecula
Bumps can also appear in your sclera. One type of bump that grows slowly over time is called a pinguecula. These growths are often gray, yellow or white, but they can be colorless. Pingueculae usually occur in the mucus membrane, or conjunctiva, covering the scleral area closest to the nose. As the clear fibers of the conjunctiva degenerate, they are replaced by thicker yellow fibers or deposits. Pingueculae are noncancerous and are associated with long-term ultraviolet light exposure.
Considerations
Seek medical help for any undiagnosed eye condition. Although some conditions may disappear on their own, you can compromise your vision by waiting too long to see an eye care professional.
