Medicines for Eye cancer

What it is

Eye cancer (ocular cancer) is a rare type of cancer that affects the eye or the tissues around it. There are several types; in adults, the most common type that begins in the eye is a melanoma of the eye (ocular or uveal melanoma), which develops from the pigment-producing cells inside the eye. Cancers can also affect other parts of the eye and surrounding structures, and in children a rare eye cancer called retinoblastoma can occur. Cancer that has spread to the eye from elsewhere in the body (secondary cancer) is actually more common than cancer starting in the eye. Eye cancer does not always cause obvious symptoms, and is sometimes found during a routine eye test (which is one reason regular eye tests are valuable). When symptoms do occur, they can include: changes in vision (such as blurred vision or loss of part of the vision); seeing flashes of light, or shadows, or an increasing number of floaters (spots in the vision); a dark spot on the coloured part of the eye (the iris) that is growing; a change in the appearance of the eye, or a lump or swelling; bulging of the eye; and, sometimes, eye pain (though this is less common). Because these symptoms — especially changes in vision or floaters — are much more commonly caused by other, non-cancerous eye conditions, they usually do not mean cancer; but new or unusual visual symptoms, a growing dark spot in the eye, or a change in the eye’s appearance should be checked. Eye cancer is diagnosed and treated by specialist eye cancer teams, and treatment depends on the type, size, and location, and may include radiotherapy, laser or other local treatments, and surgery; treatment aims to treat the cancer while preserving as much vision and the eye where possible. Regular eye tests, and getting new visual symptoms checked, are the key messages.

How it is treated

Eye cancer is diagnosed and treated by specialist eye cancer teams (in specialist centres), and the approach depends on the type, size, and location of the cancer and the aim of preserving vision and the eye where possible. It is sometimes first suspected at a routine eye test, which is one reason regular eye tests are worthwhile, as they can detect changes at the back of the eye before symptoms appear. Assessment involves specialised eye examinations and imaging (such as scans and photographs of the eye), and sometimes other tests, to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type and extent of the cancer. Treatment options depend on the specific situation and may include: radiotherapy (including specialised forms that target the eye, such as plaque brachytherapy, where a small radioactive disc is placed near the tumour, or other radiotherapy techniques), which is often used and aims to treat the cancer while preserving the eye and vision where possible; laser treatments and other local therapies for some tumours; and surgery, which ranges from removing the tumour to, in some cases, removing the eye (if the cancer is large or other treatments are not suitable), with support and options such as an artificial eye afterwards. The approach is tailored by the specialist team, balancing treating the cancer effectively with preserving vision and the eye as much as possible, and follow-up is arranged. For retinoblastoma in children, specialist treatment is provided by paediatric eye cancer teams. Because eye cancer can be present without obvious symptoms and is sometimes found at an eye test, and because new visual symptoms should be checked, the key messages are: have regular eye tests, and get new or unusual visual symptoms — such as changes in vision, flashes, an increase in floaters, a growing dark spot in the eye, or a change in the eye’s appearance — checked, as these are usually due to other causes but should be assessed. The reassuring messages are that eye cancer is rare, that new visual symptoms are usually due to non-cancerous causes, and that specialist treatment is available, aiming to treat the cancer while preserving vision and the eye where possible.