Cancer and The Eye

By Omar Ahmad, MD

Eye cancer refers to tumors that start in various parts of the eye. As in other cancers, tumors are when healthy cells begin growing uncontrollably. A tumor is generally considered “benign” if the tumor just grows, but does not spread. A “cancerous” tumor can spread to other parts of the body.

Types of Eye Cancers

The most common type of tumor in the eye is metastases to the uvea. This means that the primary cancer was in some other part of the body and extended to the eye. Various cancers have different chances of spreading to the eye. Some of the most common ones are breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. If you have been diagnosed with any type of cancer, ask your oncologist if it is advisable for you to have an ocular exam to look for metastatic signs to the eye.

There are many types of cancers that arise from the eye or surrounding structures itself too. Some tumors one can be born with like retinoblastoma. There are intra-ocular lymphomas and hemangiomas. There are also cancers of the eyelids and tears ducts and glands. The most common type of eye cancer however is a melanoma of the uvea.

Risk Factors

The most common age to diagnose eye cancer is 55. Melanomas of the eye are more common in Caucasians than African Americans. Men and women are equally affected. Patients with moles around the eye or pigmented spots on the eye are at higher risk. Family history also plays a role. As with other skin cancers, protection form sunlight and UV light can be helpful. But a routine ocular exam is advised for patients with risk factors or suspicious spots in and around the eye.

Signs and Symptoms

Overwhelmingly, eye cancers do not cause any symptoms until it may be too late. There are usually no symptoms and tumors or potential tumors are found on routine eye exams. If there is a symptom, it is usually painless loss of vision. You may see floaters in your vision or flashes of light. You may not be able to see out of certain parts of your visual field. Tumors on the lid or outside of the eye can usually be seen as darker colored spots.

Summary

Cancers of the eye are very serious and can cause death as other types of cancer can. They are particularly dangerous, because there are usually no warning signs until it is too late. If you are already being treated for cancer in the body, ask your oncologist if you are at high risk for spreading to the eye. A routine dilated eye exam with your primary eye doctor is the best way to catch cancers as early as possible. If there is a suspicious lesion or spot, it can be followed very accurately with certain tests, depending on what part of the eye it is in.