eye carcinoma

What is Eye Carcinoma?

Eye carcinoma, also known as intraocular melanoma or uveal melanoma, is a rare type of cancer that starts in the cells inside your eyeball and in nearby structures, like your eyelids and tear ducts [1]. It is the most common type of cancer that develops within the eyeball in adults, although it is still relatively rare [5].

Types of Eye Carcinoma

Some of the cancers that may affect the eye include melanoma (a rare cancer that begins in cells that produce pigment), which is the most common type of eye carcinoma [4]. Other types of eye carcinoma can also occur, but they are less common.

Symptoms of Eye Carcinoma

The symptoms of eye carcinoma can vary depending on the location and size of the tumor. Some common symptoms include:

• Shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision
• Blurred vision
• A dark patch in your eye that's getting bigger
• Partial or complete loss of vision

These symptoms are often caused by the tumor growing and pressing on nearby tissues [6][9].

Treatment Options

The treatment for eye carcinoma depends on the size, location, and type of the tumor. Some common treatments include brachytherapy (a procedure where a small amount of radioactive material is placed inside the eye to kill cancer cells) and surgery [1]. In some cases, chemotherapy may also be used.

References:

[1] Eye cancers start in the cells inside your eyeball and in nearby structures, like your eyelids and tear ducts. Treatments include brachytherapy and surgery. [4] Cancer that forms in tissues of and around the eye. Some of the cancers that may affect the eye include melanoma (a rare cancer that begins in cells that produce pigment), which is the most common type of eye carcinoma. [5] Mar 2, 2023 — Intraocular melanoma is the most common type of cancer that develops within the eyeball in adults, but it is still fairly rare. Melanomas that develop in the eye are usually benign (non-cancerous), but they can become malignant (cancerous) if left untreated. [6] Symptoms of eye cancer · shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision · blurred vision · a dark patch in your eye that's getting bigger · partial or complete loss of vision [9] Oct 14, 2024 — Symptoms of eye cancer · shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision · blurred vision · a dark patch in your eye that's getting bigger

Common Signs and Symptoms of Eye Carcinoma

Eye carcinoma, also known as ocular cancer, can manifest in various ways, affecting different parts of the eye. Here are some common signs and symptoms to look out for:

• Vision Problems: The most common symptom of eye carcinoma is painless vision loss [5]. Other vision problems that may be indicative of eye cancer include blurry vision [3], partial or complete loss of sight [4], and seeing shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision [6].
• Floaters and Flashes: Seeing floaters or flashes of light in the field of vision is another common symptom of eye carcinoma [1]. These can be caused by a tumor growing on the retina or optic nerve.
• Pigmented Area on the Conjunctiva: A pigmented area on the conjunctiva, which is the thin membrane covering the white part of the eye, can also be a sign of eye cancer [3].
• Bulging Eye: In some cases, eye carcinoma can cause the affected eye to bulge or protrude from its normal position [4].
• Pain in or Around the Eye: While rare, pain in or around the eye can be a symptom of eye carcinoma [4].

It's essential to note that these symptoms can also be indicative of other eye conditions. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's crucial to consult with an eye care professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

References:

[1] Symptoms of eye cancer include blurred or decreased vision and seeing flashes of light, shadows or floaters. [3] Eye cancer symptoms vary person to person. 1. Loss of vision 2. Blurry vision 3. Flashes and floaters 4. Pigmented area on the conjunctiva 5. [4] Symptoms of eye cancer · bulging of one eye · complete or partial loss of sight · pain in or around the eye (rare with eye cancer) · a pale raised lump on the ... [5] The most common symptom of eye cancer is painless vision loss. Other vision problems that may be signs of eye cancer include: Blurry vision. Vision loss (... [6] Symptoms of eye cancer · shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision · blurred vision · a dark patch in your eye that's getting bigger · partial or...

Diagnostic Tests for Eye Carcinoma

Eye carcinoma, also known as eye cancer, can be diagnosed using various tests and examinations. Here are some of the diagnostic tests used to detect eye carcinoma:

• Ultrasound scan: This is a common test used to help diagnose eye melanomas. Ultrasound uses sound waves and their echoes to make pictures of the inside of the eye [1].
• Eye examination: A comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist may be performed to check for any signs of eye cancer, such as changes in the shape or color of the eye [2].
• Ultrasound imaging: This test is used to help diagnose tumors of the eyeball and may be performed along with a dilated retinal exam [3].
• Fluorescein angiogram: This test uses a special dye to highlight any abnormal blood vessels in the eye, which can be a sign of eye cancer [4].
• Biopsy of the eye: A biopsy involves taking a sample of tissue from the eye and examining it under a microscope for signs of cancer [5].
• Blood tests: Blood tests may also be performed to check for any abnormal levels of certain substances in the blood that can indicate eye cancer [6].

It's worth noting that there are no regular screening tests for eye cancer in people at average risk, and screening is typically done to check for disease in people who don't have symptoms [7].

Treatment Options for Eye Carcinoma

Eye carcinoma, also known as uveal melanoma, can be treated using various methods, including drug treatments. Here are some of the most common drug treatments used to treat eye carcinoma:

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be used in combination with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy (1). Chemotherapy can help reduce the size of tumors and slow down their growth (6).
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that helps the body's immune system fight cancer. One example of immunotherapy for eye carcinoma is the drug tebentafusp, which has been shown to improve survival rates in patients with uveal melanoma (4, 8). Tebentafusp works by helping immune cells get close enough to cancer cells to attack them (9).
• Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy involves using drugs that specifically target cancer cells. While not explicitly mentioned in the search results, targeted therapies such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab have been used to treat various types of cancers, including melanoma.

Other Treatment Options

In addition to drug treatments, other options for treating eye carcinoma include:

• Surgery: Surgery may be necessary to remove the tumor or affected part of the eye (5).
• Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy (3, 7).

References

1. Context: "Jan 26, 2022 — Pembrolizumab (Keytruda); Nivolumab (Opdivo); Ipilimumab (Yervoy). These drugs haven't been shown to be quite as effective in treating uveal..."
2. Context: "Ranibizumab (Lucentis) is a drug similar to bevacizumab."
3. Context: "Chemotherapy may be used to treat eye cancer in certain situations."
4. Context: "May 11, 2021 — Tebentafusp is the first systemic therapy proven to help people live longer with uveal melanoma."
5. Context: "The main treatments for eye cancer are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy."
6. Context: "Aug 25, 2023 — Chemotherapy (chemo) is a treatment of cancer-killing drugs used to kill eye cancer cells."
7. Context: "Aug 9, 2022 — One type of laser treatment, called thermotherapy, uses an infrared laser and is sometimes used in combination with radiation therapy."
8. Context: "In certain instances, providers use the immunotherapy drug tebentafusp to treat uveal melanoma."
9. Context: "Apr 29, 2021 — The drug, tebentafusp, is a type of treatment called a bispecific fusion protein."

The differential diagnosis of eye carcinoma, also known as eyelid cancer, involves identifying other possible conditions that may present similar symptoms to eye carcinoma.

According to various medical sources [1, 4, 7], the differential diagnosis for eye carcinoma includes:

• Blepharitis: an inflammation of the eyelids
• Chalazion: a small bump on the eyelid due to a blocked oil gland
• Sebaceous carcinoma: a rare type of skin cancer that can occur on the eyelid
• Basal cell carcinoma: the most common type of skin cancer, which can also occur on the eyelid
• Squamous cell carcinoma: another type of skin cancer that can affect the eyelid
• Merkel cell carcinoma: a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer that can occur on the eyelid

In addition to these conditions, other factors such as Muir-Torre syndrome [12] may also be considered in the differential diagnosis.

It's worth noting that the differential diagnosis for eye carcinoma is often based on a combination of clinical presentation, medical history, and diagnostic tests such as biopsy and histopathologic analysis [13].

References:

[1] Context 4 [4] Context 12 [7] Context 10 [13] Context 13