Eye cancerrefers to any cancer that affects the eye.
Symptoms vary depending on which part of the eye is affected and the throw in of cancer involved.
Its possible for eye cancer to spread to other areas through metastasis.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Types
Uveal Melanoma
This is the most common primary intraocular eye cancer in adults.
It accounts for about 5% of all melanoma cases.
About nine out of 10 cases of this cancer forms in the choroid or the ciliary body.
Uveal melanoma may have no symptoms, and some cases are found during routine eye exams.
When they do, they are slow-growing and generally have a good prognosis.
Uveal melanomas can spread through the blood and commonly spread to the liver.
It usually shows up as a salmon-colored or light orange growth on the surface of the eye.
Orbital lymphoma is the most common punch in of cancer of the orbit in adults.
It is also a form of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
It may also cause the eye to be pushed out.
This punch in of cancer usually does not cause pain.
Retinoblastoma
This pop in of eye cancer primarily affects young children.
The retina nerve cells are abnormal, and begin to grow and spread quickly.
Conjunctival Cancers
The most common form of conjunctival cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.
It has a very low risk of spreading to the lymph nodes.
If this cancer becomes aggressive, the eye and eye socket may have to be removed.
Melanoma can also occur on the conjunctiva.
Conjunctival melanomas can spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
This risk is higher for thicker melanomas.
Eyelid Cancers
More than 90% of eyelid cancers are basal cell carcinomas.
This cancer is usually not aggressive and does not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs.
Squamous cell carcinoma can also affect the eyelids.
While it’s less common compared with basal cell carcinoma, it is more aggressive.
It can spread to nearby lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
This makes early detection of eye cancers somewhat difficult.
Some think that eye cancers aregeneticor caused during embryonic development.
Eye cancer is also associated with other eye conditions.
Typically, cancers of the eye are detected during routine vision screenings.
Some cancers grow very slowly and rarely spread.
In these cases, your healthcare provider may choose to monitor the cancer closely without performing any invasive procedures.
Treatment choices should be a shared decision between you and your healthcare provider.
Coping
Cancer can be a scary diagnosis, no matter what part of the body is affected.
Ask your healthcare provider about follow-up care and screening, as well as local support groups and organizations.
If youre thinking about taking any throw in of nutritional supplement, talk to your healthcare team.
They can help you decide which ones you could use safely while avoiding those that might be harmful.
Surrounding yourself with a support online grid can also help you cope with anxiety and stress.
In many cases, cancers of the eye do not spread to other parts of the body.
Being diagnosed with cancer and going through cancer treatments can be stressful.
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