Stages of Eye Cancer

Eye cancer generally occurs as melanoma, in which the pigmented cells begin to grow excessively. These pigmented cells, called melanocytes, are the predominant precursors to eye cancer and produce tumors called intraocular melanomas or uveal melanomas. Secondary eye cancers are more common and are caused when cancer in another body part spreads to the eye. However, primary cancer of the eye can metastasize to other parts of the body, causing organ damage. Risk factors for developing a primary eye tumor include being light skinned and blue-eyed, overexposure to the sun and genetic predisposition. Ophthalmologists, specializing in eye diseases and health, diagnose and treat all cancers of the eye.

Stage I: Small Melanoma

• Stage I eye cancer describes small melanomas that are 1 to 2 1/2 millimeters thick, and no more than 10 millimeters wide. A small melanoma in the eye typically does not spread to other tissues. According to the UK Cancer Research Center, 84 percent of patients with stage I eye cancer are expected to live for at least 5 years. Patients with this stage of eye cancer often do not have any symptoms and this stage is only detected via an eye exam.

Stage II: Medium Melanoma

• Stage II eye tumors are between 10 and 16 millimeters in diameter and are less than 10 millimeters thick. Stage II melanomas also do not typically involve spread to the lymph nodes or other tissues. The UK Cancer Research Center estimates that 68 percent of people with stage II eye melanomas will survive more than 5 years. Patients may experience mild vision loss and see flashes of light as well as small lines or spots, called floaters.

Stage III: Large Melanoma

• A stage III eye tumor is larger than 10 millimeters in thickness and/or 16 millimeters in diameter. It may have spread outside of the eyeball at this stage, but has not invaded the lymph nodes. 47 percent of patients with stage III eye melanoma survive at least 5 years, according to the UK Cancer Research Center. Symptoms of this stage are similar to those of stage II, but are more severe.

Stage IV: Metastasizing

• Stage IV involves the spread of cancer to lymph nodes and/or other organs. The prognosis of a stage IV eye tumor varies, depending upon where it has spread; on the average, patients in this advanced stage have a 15 percent/5 year survival rate. Patients with metastasized eye cancer experience the symptoms of eye cancer compounded by diminished appetite, weight loss and malaise.

Recurrent Eye Cancer

• Recurrent eye cancer is considered to be its own stage, but can be classified according to the previous stages. Recurrent eye cancer describes any eye cancer that was thought to be in remission but has reappeared, and may be in the eye as well as other tissues. Recurrent eye cancer has a low survival rate, because it is likely that the tumor has developed resistance to previous treatment modes.