Eye cancer rare occurrence, but it’s treatable
Cancer can affect nearly all parts of the human body.
While breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and skin cancer are the most common, eyes can develop cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 3,320 new cases of eye and orbit cancers diagnosed in the U.S. this year.
Although it is rare, eye cancer is just as serious as other forms of cancer. Tumors in the eye can cause symptoms from floaters and light flashes to diminished vision and ultimately blindness.
Eye cancer that starts in the eye is called primary intraocular cancer. Cancers affecting the eye after spreading from another part of the body to the eye (secondary intraocular cancers) are more common than primary eye cancers.
The most common type of intraocular tumor among adults is choroidal melanoma. This cancer arises in the pigmented cells of the eye’s middle layer, a thin but highly vascularized layer that nourishes the retina and front of the eye with blood. Choroidal melanoma is malignant, which means it can spread to other parts of the body. In most cases, cancer spreads to the liver or lungs.
Several risk factors have been reported:
h Race: White
h Complexion: Light-colored eyes or skin
h Age: Melanomas can occur at any age, but the risk goes up with age.
h Genetics: Family history of uveal melanoma, people affected by dysplastic nevus syndrome and oculodermal melanocytosis - Nevus of Ota- at a greater risk of developing eye melanoma.
h Nevus: Having choroidal or iris nevus (moles or freckles) and primary acquired melanosis -PAM- of the conjunctiva (increased pigmentation of the surface layer of the eye) may increase the risk of developing melanomas.
h Unproven but suspected: Sun exposure and occupation such as arc welders.
With other cancers, like breast or skin cancer, individuals might experience pain, feel bumps or notice differences in the body. Eye cancers are difficult to selfdiagnose. If they do occur, symptoms can include blurred or double vision, floaters or flashes of light, changes to the size or shape of the pupil, eye pain, or noticeable dark spots on the iris or conjunctiva. In many cases, though, patients don’t notice any symptoms. In fact, optometrists and ophthalmologists usually discover melanomas during routine eye exams.
Treatment options can include radiation, infrared lasers, and surgery. To decide which option is the best course of treatment, doctors will evaluate the location and size of a tumor. It is important to know that melanoma may have already spread elsewhere in the body before its diagnosis. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation must be undertaken after the diagnosis.
Because most risk factors generally are out of an individual’s control, such as age and race, there is no true way to prevent intraocular tumors. However, if you have a risk factor, it is paramount to have an appropriate and timely follow-up by an ophthalmologist. Like all cancers, early detection offers the best chance at a full recovery.