Uveal Melanoma Treatment

Uveal melanoma is a type of ocular melanoma, a cancer affecting the eye. Cancer that begins in the eye is rare. But cancer that originates in another part of your body can spread to the eye; the eye melanoma is then a secondary cancer. The earlier the detection and treatment, the more successful the outcome.

Symptoms

• Some people may experience no symptoms with uveal melanoma, but others may experience blurry vision, a flashing-light sensation, a dark spot on the iris, floaters (which are squiggly lines that drift into your line of vision) and loss of side vision. You may also experience a displacement of your eye in the eye socket.

Diagnosis

• Regular eye exams by an ophthalmologist can detect any early signs of uveal melanoma. Your ophthalmologist will first use a method called slit-lamp biomicroscopy, which entails using a microscope with a bright light beam to look inside your eye. He will then be able to notice any tumors or abnormalities. If uveal melanoma is suspected, your doctor will perform other tests to confirm the diagnosis. An ultrasound of the eye will tell him if a tumor exists, and the size and thickness. An angiography is a procedure in which the ophthalmologist injects yellow dye into your bloodstream. The dye will circulate to the eyes and will magnify the blood vessels in your retina, revealing to the doctor any characteristics regarding the tumor. A camera will take pictures of the affected eye, and will provide important images for your doctor. Other tests--such as blood tests, CT and MRI scans--may also be ordered if the uveal melanoma is suspected of spreading.

Treatments

• The size of the tumor will dictate the treatment. Small tumors may be treated with radiation or an infrared laser therapy. A medium-sized or large cancerous tumor will need to be removed surgically. A procedure called iridectomy removes part of the iris, and is used if the cancer has not spread to other parts of the eye. Iridocyclectomy removes part of the iris and the ciliary body. When the tumor is large, painful or there is risk of rapid spreading of the cancer, a procedure called enucleation is used to remove the entire eye. The eye surgeon will do her best to preserve your sight, but when your overall health is at risk, eye removal may be the only option.

Followup

• After the treatment is finished, you will need to have regular eye checkups to ensure that the cancer has not returned. These checkups may include x-rays or scans and will normally last several years. Let your ophthalmologist know immediately if you experience any pain or vision problems in between checkups.