Experts say a giant eyeball that washed up on a Florida beach last week likely came from a swordfish.

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say they based their conclusion on the eyeball's colour, size and structure, along with the presence of bone around it. Genetic testing will be done to confirm the identification.

Wildlife officials say swordfish are commonly fished at this time of year in the Florida Straits offshore of South Florida. That's where the softball-sized eyeball turned up Wednesday. Officials who examined the eyeball said it appeared to have been cut out by a fisherman.

The discovery and photos of the big eye created a buzz on the Internet.

"Something like this gets the public very excited about the mysterious realm of the ocean," said Heather Bracken-Grissom, an assistant professor in the marine science program at Florida International University in Miami.