A dermoid cyst is a collection of normal tissue in an abnormal space. They typically occur on the outer edge of the eyebrow but can be found on other parts of the eye or the body as well. The ones around the eye can be made of skin, hair, or fat. They are typically round, mobile (rolls under your fingers) and are filled with a cheesy material.

Dermoid cysts are typically found in the orbit, around the eyebrow. They can also be found on the white part of the eye (conjunctiva) and is called a limbal dermoid or epibulbar dermoid.

If the cyst is in a typical place around the eye, usually imaging is not necessary. However, if it is an unusual location, we can do imaging to rule out other causes of a cyst around the eye that may be more dangerous.

A dermoid cyst does not typically cause vision loss. However, if it breaks or ruptures it can cause an inflammatory reaction in the surrounding area and can lead to scarring and damage of normal eye structures around the cyst.