Ocular Melanoma (Intraocular Melanoma or Uveal Melanoma)

• Facts
  • Ocular melanoma facts*
  • What is ocular melanoma?
• Risk Factors
  • What are risk factors for ocular melanoma?
• Symptoms & Signs
  • What are signs and symptoms of ocular melanoma?
• Diagnosis
  • What tests detects and diagnose ocular melanoma?
  • How do health care professionals diagnose ocular melanoma?
• Prognosis
  • What factors affect the prognosis and treatment options for ocular melanoma?
• Metastasis
  • What tests determine if ocular melanoma has spread?
  • How does cancer spread in the body?
  • What is metastasis?
• Treatment
  • What are the treatment options for ocular melanoma?
  • What are treatments for the various types of ocular melanoma?
• Clinical Trials
  • Who should consider taking part in an ocular melanoma clinical trial?
  • When can patients enter a clinical trial for ocular melanoma?
• Follow-up
  • When should patients follow up after the initial treatment of ocular melanoma?
• Types
  • What are treatment options for extraocular extension melanoma and metastatic ocular melanoma?
• Recurrent
  • What are treatments for recurrent ocular melanoma?

A dark spot on the iris can be a sign of ocular melanoma.

*Ocular melanoma facts written by Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD

• Ocular melanoma is a rare type of cancer that begins in the eye.
• Ocular melanoma is also referred to as intraocular melanoma or uveal melanoma.
• The cancers cells in this type of tumor produce the pigment melanin.
• Risk factors for developing ocular melanoma include fair skin and old age.
• Ocular melanoma may not cause early signs or symptoms. Later symptoms can include blurred vision, floaters in the field of vision, a dark spot on the iris (colored part) of the eye, or a change in the size or shape of the pupil or change in the position of the eyeball within the eye socket.
• Ocular melanoma is usually diagnosed by eye examinations. A biopsy of the tissue is usually not necessary.
• Surgery is the most common treatment for intraocular melanoma. Sometimes health care professionals also use radiation therapy and other types of treatments.

Intraocular melanoma begins in the middle of three layers of the wall of the eye. The outer layer includes the white sclera (the "white of the eye") and the clear cornea at the front of the eye. The inner layer has a lining of nerve tissue, called the retina, which senses light and sends images along the optic nerve to the brain.

The middle layer, where intraocular melanoma forms, is called the uvea or uveal tract, and has three main parts:

Iris

The iris is the colored area at the front of the eye (the "eye color"). It can be seen through the clear cornea. The pupil is in the center of the iris and it changes size to let more or less light into the eye. Intraocular melanoma of the iris is usually a small tumor that grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Ciliary body

The ciliary body is a ring of tissue with muscle fibers that change the size of the pupil and the shape of the lens. It is found behind the iris. Changes in the shape of the lens help the eye focus. The ciliary body also makes the clear fluid that fills the space between the cornea and the iris. Intraocular melanoma of the ciliary body is often larger and more likely to spread to other parts of the body than intraocular melanoma of the iris.

Choroid

The choroid is a layer of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the eye. Most intraocular melanomas begin in the choroid. Intraocular melanoma of the choroid is often larger and more likely to spread to other parts of the body than intraocular melanoma of the iris.

Intraocular melanoma is a rare cancer that forms from cells that make melanin in the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It is the most common eye cancer in adults.

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk.

Risk factors for intraocular melanoma include the following:

• Having a fair complexion, which includes the following:
  • Fair skin that freckles and burns easily, does not tan, or tans poorly.
  • Blue or green or other light-colored eyes.
• Older age.
• Being white.

Intraocular melanoma may not cause early signs or symptoms. It is sometimes found during a regular eye exam when the doctor dilates the pupil and looks into the eye. Signs and symptoms may be caused by intraocular melanoma or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Blurred vision or other change in vision.