Eye Cancer

Summary

Cancer of the eye is uncommon. It can affect the outer parts of the eye, such as the eyelid, which are made up of muscles, skin and nerves. If the cancer starts inside the eyeball it’s called intraocular cancer. The most common intraocular cancers in adults are melanoma and lymphoma. The most common eye cancer in children is retinoblastoma, which starts in the cells of the retina. Cancer can also spread to the eye from other parts of the body.

Treatment for eye cancer varies by the type and by how advanced it is. It may include surgery, radiation therapy, freezing or heat therapy, or laser therapy.

National Cancer Institute

Patient Handouts

• After chemotherapy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Lacrimal gland tumor Medical Encyclopedia
• Melanoma of the eye Medical Encyclopedia
• Retinoblastoma Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• American Foundation for the Blind American Foundation for the Blind
• Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Find an Ophthalmologist American Academy of Ophthalmology
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
• National Eye Institute National Eye Institute
• Organizations that Offer Cancer Support Services National Cancer Institute

Specifics

• Cancers Affecting the Retina Merck & Co., Inc.

Children

• Childhood Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma Treatment National Cancer Institute
• Retinoblastoma National Eye Institute
• What Is Retinoblastoma? American Academy of Ophthalmology

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Eye Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Retinoblastoma National Institutes of Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dilating Eye Drops American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Stages of Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• Stages of Retinoblastoma National Cancer Institute

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Retinoblastoma National Cancer Institute
• Treatment of Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Intraocular [Uveal] Melanoma) National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Retinoblastoma) National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• Eye Melanoma American Society of Clinical Oncology
• General Information about Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• General Information about Retinoblastoma National Cancer Institute
• What Is Eye Cancer? American Cancer Society

Symptoms

• Eye Symptoms American Academy of Ophthalmology

Images

• Eyelid Growths Merck & Co., Inc.

Reference Desk

• How the Eyes Work National Eye Institute

Living With

• Living as an Eye Cancer Survivor American Cancer Society

Related Issues

• Nevus (Eye Freckle) American Academy of Ophthalmology

Journal Articles

• Eye cancer

Genetics

• Retinoblastoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Risk Factors for Eye Cancer American Cancer Society

Statistics and Research

• What’s New In Eye Cancer Research and Treatment? American Cancer Society