Ocular oncology refers to the subspecialty in ophthalmology that deals with tumors and cancers of the eye. Cancers may affect the eye either as primary cancers (originate in the eye) or as secondary cancers (spread to the eye from cancers affecting other sites of the body). Cancers originating in the eye may also spread to affect other parts of the body (metastasis) and in this situation maybe lethal. The most common cancers that start in the eye are uveal melanoma in adults and retinoblastoma in young children. Both of these cancers are very serious cancers (malignant) and can spread to other parts of the body causing death if left untreated. Treatment of these cancers ranges from simple laser treatment to advanced radiation and surgical techniques.
Eye cancers are discovered either incidentally at the time of a routine eye exam when they are asymptomatic, or at the time of evaluation of visual problems since they can be associated with decreased vision due to eye complications. It is crucial to have your eyes examined by a specialist experienced in the field of eye cancers if you were told to have an unusual growth or lesion inside your eye. Many times these lesions can be benign lesions that only need monitoring over time. However, differentiation between a benign lesion and a malignant eye cancer can be difficult and requires special examination and imaging techniques by an experienced eye cancer specialist.
Eye cancers are discovered either incidentally at the time of a routine eye exam when they are asymptomatic, or at the time of evaluation of visual problems since they can be associated with decreased vision due to eye complications. It is crucial to have your eyes examined by a specialist experienced in the field of eye cancers if you were told to have an unusual growth or lesion inside your eye. Many times these lesions can be benign lesions that only need monitoring over time. However, differentiation between a benign lesion and a malignant eye cancer can be difficult and requires special examination and imaging techniques by an experienced eye cancer specialist.