Treatment of Eye Cancer
What is eye cancer?
Eye cancer, also referred to as eye melanoma or ocular melanoma, begins in cells in your eyes that make melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color. Eye melanoma begins in areas of the eyes that cannot be seen when looking in a mirror. Eye cancer is categorized into two main groups: intraocular (within the eye) and extraocular (around the eye).
Intraocular cancers can include the following:
- Ocular melanoma: begins in the cells called melanocytes, which can start in the the eyeball, conjunctiva, or eyelid.
- Retinoblastoma: starts in the retina and mainly affects children under the age of 5.
- Lymphoma: begins in the cells of the immune system, known as the lymphocytes, which can be found in the spleen, thymus, bone marrow, or additional parts of the body.
In contrast, extraocular cancers can include the following:
- Eyelid cancers: known as malignant growths of the eyelid, identified most commonly as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma
- Orbital cancers: abnormal growth of tissue in the area surrounding the eye, referred to as the orbit.
- Lacrimal gland tumors: starts in the lacrimal gland, where fluid is produced to clean and protect the surface of the eyelid.
What causes eye cancer?
While the cause of most eye cancers is unknown, risk factors for eye cancer are present. For instance, each person inherits 2 copies of each gene in their cells, and some people inherit gene changes (mutations), like the BAP1 tumor suppressor gene, which can pose an increased risk for eye cancer. Researchers still do not understand how some people develop gene changes, while others do not; however, if certain genes are not working as they should, cells can grow and spread, which can ultimately lead to cancer.
What are the risk factors for eye cancer?
A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of developing a disease, like cancer. The risk factors for eye cancer include the following:
- Skin color: The risk of eye melanoma is higher in individuals with lighter skin than in people with darker skin tones.
- Eye color: People with light colored eyes are at a higher risk of developing eye cancer than those with darker eyes.
- Age: The risk for eye melanoma increases as people get older.
- Sex: Eye melanoma is slightly more common in men than women.
- Diagnosed with dysplastic nevus syndrome.
- Diagnosed with BAP1 cancer syndrome.
- Moles and pigmented areas of the eyes.
What are the signs or symptoms of eye cancer?
Eye cancer may not immediately cause symptoms; however, when symptoms do arrive, they may include the following:
- Problems with vision (such as blurry or distorted vision or even sudden loss of vision).
- Floaters (spots of squiggles in your vision) or flashes of lights.
- Growing dark spot on the colored part of the eye (iris).
- Change in position of the eyeball.
- Change in size or shape of pupil.
- Bulging of the eye.
- Changes in how an eye looks, feels or moves.
Can eye cancer be detected early?
In some cases, eye cancers can be found early. Regular eye exams are an important part of everyone’s health care. Although eye cancer is not the main focus of a routine eye exam, eye melanomas can be detected during an exam. If you notice changes in your eyes, it is important to check with a doctor or ophthalmologist (a doctor who specializes in eye diseases).
What are treatment options for eye cancer?
Speaking with a cancer expert will allow you to find the best treatment option for you.
For eye cancer, more than one treatment option is typically utilized. With choosing the best treatment option, the experts at Karmanos Cancer Institute evaluate the type of eye cancer, stage of cancer, side effects of treatment, and your overall health and preference.
Early detection is one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against cancer. When it comes to world-class cancer care close to home, look no further than Karmanos.
Information includes eye cancer, causes, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment.