Information on Intraocular Melanoma

Intraocular melanoma is the most familiar eye cancer in adults. Intraocular melanoma is a form of cancerous tumor in the eye. The fraction of the eye affected by this rare type of cancer is the uvea. The uvea contains cells called melanocytes. When these cells become cancerous, the cancer is called a melanoma. The uvea comprises the iris (the colored part of the eye), the ciliary body (a muscle in the eye), and the choroids (a layer of tissue in the back of the eye). The iris opens and closes to alter the amount of light entering the eye. The ciliary body changes the shape of the lens inside the eye so it can focus.

Intraocular melanoma happens most frequently in people who are middle aged. Most people with intraocular melanoma skill no symptoms of the cancer in its premature stages. Melanoma that starts in the iris may appear as a dark spot on the iris. Intraocular melanoma that is in the ciliary body or choroids may cause blurry vision. Age and sun exposure may increase the risk of developing intraocular melanoma. The choice of treatment depends on where the cancer is in the eye, how far it has spread, and the patient’s general health and age.

Surgery is the most common dealing of intraocular melanoma. Radiation treatment uses x-rays or other high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells and minimize tumors. Radiation may come from a device outside the body or from putting materials that contain radiation in the area where the cancer cells are found.  In intraocular melanoma, internal radiation may be put next to the eye using little implants called plaques. Radiation can be used alone or in combination with surgery. Laser therapy is a treatment that uses a strongly powerful ray of light to destroy the tumor.

The laser may be used with a unique dye that is added into the tumor, causing the laser to heat the dye and destroy the tumor.  Most doctors now treat intraocular lymphoma with systemic chemotherapy (anticancer drugs that are injected into a vein and move throughout the body) or by injecting it directly into the spinal fluid (intrathecal chemotherapy). Thermotherapy is the employ of heat to destroy cancer cells. Photocoagulation is another treatment that uses a laser to destroy the blood vessels that feed the tumor, killing the tumor indirectly.  Photocoagulation may be used to treat small tumors. This is also called light coagulation.