Cancer of the Eye

Eye cancer can be cancer of the eyeball itself (intraocular) or cancer of the surrounding tissue (extraocular) including the muscles, nerves and skin.

Intraocular CancerCancer of the eyeball itself is very rare. There are several types of intraocular cancer:
MelanomaMelanoma is the most common type of ocular cancer in adults, but is still very rare. It acts much like skin cancer but starts in the choroid part of the uvea or the iris of the eye. About 90% of intraocular melanomas develop in the choroids with most of the remaining intraocular melanomas developing in the iris. When they develop in the iris they are visible to the naked eye, grow slowly, and rarely spread to other parts of the body. Melanomas are made up of two types of cells. Spindle cells are elongated cells, and epithelioid cells are more round but have some straight edges. Most tumors will contain both types of cells. Epithelioid cells are more likely to spread.
Non-Hodgkin LymphomaMost lymphomas start in the lymph nodes, but they can start in organs including the eyes. Lymphoma normally develops in people who have compromised immune systems such as people with AIDS and the elderly.

RetinoblastomaBecause it is the result of early development of the retina gone awry, retinoblastoma can only occur in children, not adults. It is the most common form of eye cancer in children. Retinoblasts are cells which divide and fill the retina during early development. Eventually these cells should stop dividing and grow into mature retinal cells. When they do not stop dividing they grow wildly and become cancer.

MedulloepthileomiaMedulloepthileoma is very rare and is almost always found in small children. The tumors are painful and affect vision, but rarely spread. When possible just the tumor is removed from the eye, but in some cases the entire eye must be removed.

Secondary CancersSometimes cancer from other parts of the body will spread to the eye, usually breast or lung cancer. Typically when cancer spreads to the eye it affects the uvea.

Extraocular CancerThe most common forms of extraocular cancer are skin cancer of the eyelid and rhabdomyosarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma starts in the muscles that move the eye and usually occurs in children at about six years of age. The tumors grow very fast and push the eye forward. Some will enter the sinuses and destroy bone. They usually cannot be removed surgically and are therefore treated with radiation and/or chemotherapy.

If you suspect that you or your child may have cancer of the eye, contact an ophthalmologist today.