Black areas in the sclera

[moms_help]

I see your answer to the blue patches on the sclera; my mother in law has black patches at the 3 and 9 position.  She is 94, has Alzheimer's, is taking aricept and namenda.

can you indicate what causes the black areas?
thank you for your help

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

In a child they generally go away as the sclera gets thicker. In a person 70 or older then get bigger as sclera thins with age. This is not the same as "blue sclera" where the entire sclera turns blue. Just see an Eye MD yearly.
JCHMD

[moms_help]

thank you for the information.  I expect there is nothing we can do for or about the condition as it is age related.  Is there anything to watch out for?

thank you again for your help

warmest regards
mom_help

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Almost always they are due to age related thinning of the white of the eye (sclera) which lets the dark blue choroid layer of the eye show through. They occur at 3 and 9 because the strong medial and lateral rectus eye muscles that pull the eye in and out over a lifetime think the sclera.

JCH MD