39^th European Ophthalmology Congress

Ocular Oncology

Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumours relating to the eye and its adnexa. Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye. Eye neoplasms are benign or malignant (cancerous) tumours that occur in or around the eye. Eye cancer is rare in comparison to other cancerous tumours. Benign tumours may also be called dermoid cysts. Malignant tumours may be either rhabdomyosarcoma or retinoblastoma, and can be primary, starting within the eye, or secondary (metastatic), spreading to the eye from another organ.  Most eye tumours are metastatic— usually starting in the breast, lung, bowel or prostate.

Two types of primary tumours develop within the eye itself

• Retinoblastoma in children
• Ocular melanoma in adults.

Retinoblastoma: Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye that begins in the retina, the eye’s light-sensitive tissue. It is a rare form of cancer, though the most common eye cancer that affects children under five years of age.

Ocular Melanoma: Ocular melanoma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the pigment producing cells of your eyes. Ocular melanomas usually develop in the middle of the three layers of your eye, called the uvea. In rare cases, the melanoma can also develop on the conjunctiva. When tumours develop inside and around the eye, a specialized team of doctors— including ophthalmologists, oncologists, radiation specialists, and surgeons are called upon to provide the best possible care for preservation of life, vision, and cosmetic appearance.