What are ocular tumors?
Eye Cancer (Ocular Melanoma)
What are ocular tumors?
Eye tumors fall into one of two categories: (1) primary tumors originating within the eye or associated structures or (2) secondary tumors caused by cancers that have spread from other parts of the body. Both may involve the eye, eyelid, orbit and lacrimal glands.
What are some of the most common types of eye cancer?
- Choroidal Melanoma. This is the most common intraocular (inside the eye) tumor in adults. The tumor can be in the iris or in the choroid, the layer of blood vessels between the retina and the white of the eye, the sclera. Symptoms are often silent and found in routine eye exams.
- Choroidal Hemangioma. A tumor comprised of blood vessels, which can grow in the choroid, the blood vessel layer beneath the retina.
- Conjunctival Tumors. A type of malignant cancer that grows on the outer surface of the eye, including squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, lymphoma and carcinoma-in-situ.
- Eyelid Orbinal Tumors. A benign cyst, inflammatory or malignant skin cancer, (including basal cell, squamous cell, and meibomian gland carcinomas) that occurs in children and adults.
- Iris and Ciliary Body Tumors. These grow within the iris (colored part of the eye) or behind the iris (ciliary body). Some are cysts or a nevus (benign), but malignant melanomas can occur in this area as well.
- Lymphoma/Leukemia. Tumors appearing in the eyelid tissue, tear ducts, and the eye itself. In patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, symptoms may appear in the eye before they are noted elsewhere.
- Retinal Tumors. Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant tumor of the retina that affects mostly children. RB tumors form in the innermost layer of blood vessels and nerves that serve as the “film” of the eye.
How should an ocular tumor be treated?
Ocular tumors should be assessed and diagnosed by an experienced ophthalmologist to devise an effective treatment plan.