Melanoma of the eye (patient information)

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Overview
Melanoma of the eye is cancer that occurs in various parts of the eye.

What are the symptoms of Melanoma of the eye?

 * Bulging eyes
 * Change in iris color
 * Poor vision in one eye
 * Red, painful eye
 * Small defect on the iris or conjunctiva


 * In some cases, there may be no symptoms.

What causes Melanoma of the eye?
Melanoma is a very aggressive type of cancer that can spread rapidly.

Melanoma of the eye can affect several parts of the eye, including the:


 * Choroid
 * Ciliary body
 * Conjunctiva
 * Eyelid
 * Iris
 * Orbit

The choroid layer is the most likely location of melanoma in the eye.

The cancer may only be in the eye, or it may spread (metastasize) to another location in the body, most commonly the liver. Melanoma can also begin on the skin or other organs in the body and spread to the eye.

Who is at highest risk?
Melanoma is the most common type of eye tumor in adults. Even so, primary melanoma of the eye is rare.

Excessive exposure to sunlight is an important risk factor. The occurrence of melanoma has greatly increased in recent decades. Fair-skinned and blue-eyed people are most often affected.

Diagnosis
An eye examination with an ophthalmoscope may reveal a single round or oval lump (tumor) in the eye.

Tests may include:


 * Cranial CT scan to look for spread (metastasis) to the brain
 * Eye ultrasound
 * MRI of the head to look for metastasis to the brain
 * Skin biopsy if there is an affected area on the skin

When to seek urgent medical care?
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of melanoma of the eye.

Treatment options
Small melanomas may be treated with lasers, brachytherapy, or radiation therapy.

Surgical removal of the eye (enucleation) may be necessary.

Chemotherapy or biological therapy (interferon) are considered less effective therapies for melanoma involving the eye.

Where to find medical care for Melanoma of the eye?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Melanoma of the eye

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The outcome for melanoma of the eye depends on the size of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. Most patients will survive at least 5 years from the time of diagnosis if the cancer has not spread outside the eye.

If the cancer has spread outside the eye, the chance of survival is much lower.

Possible complications

 * Distortion or loss of vision
 * Retinal detachment
 * Spread of the tumor to other areas of the body

Prevention of Melanoma of the eye
The most important way to prevent eye melanoma is to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun's rays are most intense. Wear sunglasses, and be sure they have ultraviolet protection.

A yearly eye exam is recommended.