Melanoma of the eye is cancer that occurs in various parts of the eye.
Malignant melanoma - choroid; Malignant melanoma - eye; Eye tumor; Ocular melanoma
Melanoma is a very aggressive type of cancer that can spread rapidly. It usually is a type of skin cancer.
Melanoma of the eye can affect several parts of the eye, including the:
The choroid layer is the most likely site of melanoma in the eye. This is the layer of blood vessels and connective tissue between the white of the eye and retina (back of the eye).
The cancer may only be in the eye. Or, it may spread (metastasize) to another location in the body, most commonly the liver. Melanoma can also begin on the skin or other organs in the body and spread to the eye.
Melanoma is the most common type of eye tumor in adults. Even so, melanoma that starts in the eye is rare.
Too much exposure to sunlight is an important risk factor for melanoma. People who have fair-skin and blue eyes are most affected.
Symptoms of melanoma of the eye may include any of the following:
In some cases, there may be no symptoms.
Small melanomas may be treated with:
Surgery to remove the eye (enucleation) may be needed.
Other treatments that may be used include:
Prithvi Mruthyunjaya is an Ophthalmologist in San Jose, California. Dr. Mruthyunjaya has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and is rated as an Elite doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Melanoma of the Eye. He is also highly rated in 38 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Melanoma of the Eye, Retinal Detachment, Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, and Choroid Plexus Carcinoma. He is licensed to treat patients in North Carolina and California. Dr. Mruthyunjaya is currently accepting new patients.
Richard Carvajal is an Oncologist and a Hematologist Oncology doctor in New York, New York. Dr. Carvajal has been practicing medicine for over 22 years and is rated as an Elite doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Melanoma of the Eye. He is also highly rated in 23 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Melanoma, Melanoma of the Eye, Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, and Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. He is licensed to treat patients in New York. Dr. Carvajal is currently accepting new patients.
Tara Mccannel is an Ophthalmologist in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Mccannel has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and is rated as an Elite doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Melanoma of the Eye. She is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Melanoma of the Eye, Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, Retinal Detachment, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration ARMD. She is licensed to treat patients in California. Dr. Mccannel is currently accepting new patients.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
The outcome for melanoma of the eye depends on the size of the cancer when it is diagnosed. Most people survive at least 5 years from the time of diagnosis if the cancer has not spread outside the eye.
If the cancer has spread outside the eye, the chance of long-term survival is much lower.
Problems that may develop due to melanoma of the eye include:
Contact your health care provider for an appointment if you have symptoms of melanoma of the eye.
The most important way to prevent melanoma of the eye is to protect the eyes from sunlight, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun's rays are most intense. Wear sunglasses that have ultraviolet protection.
A yearly eye exam is recommended.
Published Date : July 19, 2021
Published By : Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 05/18/2022.
Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM, Berry JL. Malignant intraocular neoplasms. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 8.1.
National Cancer Institute website. Intraocular (uveal) melanoma treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/eye/hp/intraocular-melanoma-treatment-pdq. Updated February 25, 2022. Accessed May 18, 2022.
Seddon JM, McCannel TA. Epidemiology of posterior uveal melanoma. In: Schachat AP, Sadda SVR, Hinton DR, Wilkinson CP, Wiedemann P, eds. Ryan's Retina. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 143.
Shields CL, Shields JA. Overview of management of posterior uveal melanoma. In: Schachat AP, Sadda SVR, Hinton DR, Wilkinson CP, Wiedemann P, eds. Ryan's Retina. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 147.