Eye Cancer

Eye Cancer is relatively rare, with as few as 850 cases diagnosed annually in the UK. Eye cancer is a general term for diagnosing different cancer types, and the type you have depends on the cell it starts in. Although there are different types of cancer that affect the eye, the most common is ocular melanoma.

What is Eye Cancer

What is eye cancer?

There are several types of cancer that affect the eyes, these include:
• Eye melanoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Lymphoma
• Retinoblastoma

The most common type of eye cancer is melanoma. While melanoma is generally developed from melanocytes, the cells that give our skin its colour, and therefore much more common in the skin, there are melanocytes elsewhere in the body, including the eyes.

There are two main types of ocular melanoma:

- Uveal melanoma, the uvea refers to the middle layer of the eyeball and contains the iris, the ciliary body which produces fluid, and the choroid at the back of the eye
- Conjunctival melanoma, which affects the conjunctiva, the protective layer surrounding the eye. This is the least common of the two main ocular melanomas

We work together to combine the highest levels of consultant-led care and patient choice with the most advanced knowledge and understanding of the disease and its forms.

Learn More About Eye Cancer

While we currently do not know what causes eye cancer, doctors have been able to identify certain contributory ‘risk factors’ which are not in themselves definitive, but may give an indication of certain lifestyle factors that may lead to ocular melanoma. These include:

Fair or red hair, easily sunburned skin or blue eyes
UV ray exposure, although this has more closely been linked with skin melanoma, there is evidence to suggest a link between UV rays and conjunctival melanoma
Atypical mole syndrome, a condition usually identifiable by a large number (over one hundred) of moles on the skin
Primary acquired melanosis (PAM), a rare condition that causes pigmentation of the conjunctiva, usually in one eye.

Symptoms of Eye Cancer

Ocular melanoma does not always cause symptoms, and the two main types discussed here may have slightly different indicators. It is important to note, that if you are concerned with your health, or have noticed any changes to your eyes, you should always consult a health professional.

Uveal melanoma symptoms:

blurred vision
seeing flashing lights or balls of lights
seeing shadows

Conjunctival melanoma symptoms:

new brown or dark patches appearing on the white area of the eye
existing brown or dark patches on the white area of the eye getting bigger
a raised, skin-coloured bump on the white of the eye

General eye cancer symptoms include:

bulging of the eye
partial or complete loss of sight
a raised lump on the surface of the eye
blurred vision
lumps on the eyelids or around the eyes
change in the appearance of the eye
seeing spots or flashes in front of your eyes
loss of peripheral vision
eye irritation, chronic inflammation, or red eyes
occasionally eye pain although this is rare

Diagnosis of Eye Cancer

Although diagnosis will necessarily differ on a case by case basis, ocular melanoma diagnosis will broadly include the following stages;

Consultation with a GP or optician, followed by referral to a specialist eye doctor or ophthalmologist
If an ophthalmologist considers that there is possibility of ocular melanoma, you will be referred to a national eye centre
The eye will then be subject to scans, ultrasound and photography, and perhaps an angiogram to test the retinal blood vessels.
Ocular biopsies are rare, but sometimes necessary.

Treatments available at Clatterbridge Private Clinic

The treatment you have for eye cancer depends on the size and location of the eye cancer. You may be offered a combination of treatments. Consultants at the Clatterbridge Private Clinic develop a tailored treatment plan for each patient best-suited to their needs. We have access to a wide range of treatment options, many of which are not routinely available on the NHS.

Proton eye beam therapy

Proton eye beam therapy is a groundbreaking eye cancer treatment that is only accessible through Clatterbridge in the UK. The treatment produces low energy protons which are specifically suited to treating tumours of the eye. Different from other radiotherapy methods, the energy of the beam stops at a specified depth within the body, allowing healthy tissue beyond the beam to be spared from any potential side effects, resulting in less damage to healthy surrounding tissues.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. At Clatterbridge Private Clinic, we offer advanced radiotherapy techniques such as image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and three-dimensional radiation therapy (3D-CRT), all delivered by our expert radiographers.

Surgery

Surgery may be used to remove the tumour or part of the eye if the tumour is small. In some cases the whole eye may need to be removed, if you’ve completely lost vision.