Sometimes melanoma also occurs on the conjunctiva or eyelid.
This cancer is most common in older people and peaks at around age 70.
It is found more often in men than in women.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Ocular melanomas account for around 5% of melanomas.
In other words, they are not usually visible in the mirror.
It is much like the tool your optician or physician uses to look at your eye.
It is noninvasive and is painless and done after your eye doctor first dilates your eyes.
An ultrasound may also be done to view the eye and surrounding structures.
Numbing drops are given before the scan to prevent any discomfort.
You may be asked to look in different directions to allow for different angles of viewing.
Eye ultrasounds generally take about 15 minutes or less.
The liver is one common site of metastasis for ocular cancer.
This list showswhere melanoma commonly spreads.
Surgery
Surgery is one method for treating melanoma of the eye.
An artificial eye can be created in most cases.
Prosthetic eyes today are much more realistic than in the past.
They are created by talented, trained individuals called ocularists.
Quality and artistic talent are two important characteristics to consider when choosing an ocularist.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is also a common treatment for ocular melanoma.
It may be the sole treatment or done after surgery.
There are two types of radiation therapy: external and internal.
Radiation therapy is effective against ocular melanoma but does not come without side effects.
Eyelash loss and shortening may also occur.
Treatment of metastatic melanomais usually similar to that for other types of metastatic melanoma.
Though good treatments are mostly lacking for metastatic disease, several options for melanoma chemotherapy exist.
In addition, promising clinical trials looking at targeted therapies as well as immunotherapy are in progress.
It is given once weekly in the form of an IV infusion over 15-20 minutes.
Learn nevus.
National Cancer Institute.Intraocular (uveal) melanoma treatment (PDQ)health professional version.
American Academy of Opthalmology.What is ocular melanoma?
2016;30(1):29-32, 34-43, 48.
PMID: 26791842
Immunocore.KIMMTRAK (tebentafusp-tebn).
