A few weeks ago, "bubbles" suddenly sprang up on the whites of my eyes. The bubbles are not painful, but they're irritating. They are also accompanied by a dull pain deep inside the eye. What could be causing these bubbles?

G.

Bubbles on the surface of the white part of the eye are common, and are called conjunctival cysts. The surface of the conjunctiva, which is the transparent membrane that lines the eyelids and outer eye up to the edge of the cornea, produces mucin and fluid. If conjunctival surface cells get buried, which may occur after an injury or chronic rubbing, then these cells will produce fluid under the conjunctiva. The fluid will remain in a pocket and gradually expand, forming a cyst. As the conjunctival cyst gets bigger, it may spontaneously "pop." Such cysts can also be punctured or excised by an ophthalmologist.

Although it sounds like you are describing a conjunctival cyst, it would be best for you to be examined by an ophthalmologist to confirm that the cyst is benign.