What is eye cancer?

Eye cancer develops when abnormal cells in your eye grow and divide in an uncontrolled way.

Many different cancers can affect the eye or the muscles and tissues around the eye. Eye cancers are sometimes called 'intraocular cancers'.

What are the types of eye cancer?

If the cancer starts to grow in the eye itself, it is called a primary cancer. If the cancer spreads to the eye (metastasises) from another body part, such as the breast or lungs, it is called a secondary cancer.

There are a few different types of primary eye cancer.

Melanoma

The most common form of primary eye cancer in adults is melanoma. It is quite different to the melanoma you get on your skin.

Eye melanoma, also called 'ocular melanoma' or 'uveal melanoma', grows in the cells of the eye that produce melanin (the pigment that gives your skin its colour). It affects the middle of the 3 layers of the wall of the eye, which contains several parts. It can affect any of the parts in this layer. You can't see ocular melanoma by looking in a mirror.

Lymphoma

Another type of rare eye cancer is lymphoma, which affects your immune system and usually starts in your lymph nodes.

Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a cancer that grows in the cells of the retina (the part of the back of the eye that senses light). It can grow in one or both eyes and occur at any age, but usually in children under 3 years of age.

What are the symptoms of eye cancer?

Many people with eye cancer do not have any symptoms. A health professional may find the condition when you have a routine eye test.

If you do have symptoms, you may notice:

• blurred vision in one eye
• loss of peripheral (side) vision
• dark spots on the white or coloured part (iris) of the eye
• small specks or wavy lines in your vision
• a change in the shape of the black part of the eye (the pupil)

All of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. But if you are worried, talk to your doctor.

What causes eye cancer?

Doctors don't fully understand why eye cancer develops, but there are some factors that increase your risk of eye melanoma, including:

• having light-coloured eyes
• having fair skin
• older age
• having many moles on your skin
• having a close relative who has had eye cancer

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight (or sunlamps) may also increase your risk of melanoma of the eye.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see your doctor or optometrist if you notice any changes in your vision, such as blurriness, dark spots, flashes of light, or loss of peripheral vision.

You should also make an appointment if you see a new dark patch or change in the colour or shape of your iris or pupil, or if one eye appears to bulge.

Even if your symptoms are mild or come and go, it is important to have them checked.

Routine eye checks are also recommended, as eye cancer can develop without noticeable symptoms and may be diagnosed early during a standard examination.

How is eye cancer diagnosed?

If your doctor thinks you might have eye cancer, they will examine the outside of your eye and use special instruments to look inside it.

If you need further tests, your doctor may refer you to an eye specialist called an ophthalmologist. The specialist may check your eye using a special microscope, or take photographs of the back of your eye with a special camera. They may also refer you for other tests, including an ultrasound. Sometimes, you may have a biopsy, where a small sample of tissue is removed to be checked in a laboratory.

You might also have tests such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to check if the cancer has spread from your eye to other parts of your body.

How is eye cancer treated?

The type of treatment will depend on the type of eye cancer and how far it has spread (known as its stage).

Usually, you will need surgery to remove the tumour, part of the eye or sometimes the whole eye. After the surgery, you can have an artificial eye implant that looks like a real eye.

Other treatments may include laser therapy to destroy cancer cells. If the cancer has spread to other parts of your body, your health team may also offer you radiotherapy or other medicines.

Living with eye cancer

After treatment has finished, you will still need regular checks with your specialists and ongoing tests. Eye melanoma can come back in other parts of the body, so your ophthalmologist will want to review you regularly to catch any recurrence early.

Most people can still see well with one eye, but it may take a few months for your vision to adjust. You may notice problems with judging distance and seeing things at the edge of your vision (peripheral vision).

If you have an artificial eye, you will need to learn to care for it.

After treatment for cancer, it is common to feel anxious that the cancer will return. Seek support from your doctor, a therapist or other people who have been through cancer.

What are the complications of eye cancer?

Eye cancer and its treatment can sometimes cause complications that affect your vision and eye health.

If the tumour damages parts of the eye, you may experience permanent vision loss, double vision, or problems with depth perception.

Surgery to remove the tumour or the whole eye (enucleation) can also change the appearance of your eye socket and affect how your facial muscles move.

Radiotherapy may cause dryness, irritation, cataracts, or damage to nearby tissues, such as the optic nerve or retina.

In some cases, ocular melanoma can spread (metastasise) to other parts of the body, most often to the liver, which can be serious and needs ongoing monitoring.

Your care team will help you manage these complications and support your recovery with ongoing follow-up and rehabilitation.

Can eye cancer be prevented?

There is no sure way to prevent eye cancer, but you can take steps that may help reduce your risk.

Because ultraviolet (UV) light may contribute to the development of melanoma in the eye, protecting your eyes from the sun is important. Wearing sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors can lower exposure to radiation from the sun.

Regular eye examinations are also important, as they can help find early changes before symptoms appear. If you have fair skin, light-coloured eyes, or a family history of eye cancer, talk to your doctor about how often you should have your eyes checked.

Although these measures cannot guarantee prevention, they support early detection and help maintain eye health.

Read more on sun protection.

Resources and support

For more information and support, try these resources:

• Cancer Council Australia provides services and support to all people affected by cancer — 13 11 20.
• Ocularists Association of Australia has information and resources on artificial eyes, finding an ocularist and dealing with eye loss.
• The Melanoma Institute Australia provides more information about melanoma.
• Rare Cancers Australia provides information, support and advocacy for people with rare cancers.
• Beyond Blue provides support for people with depression and anxiety — 1300 22 4636.

Languages other than English

• Cancer Council South Australia has information in many different community languages.
• General information about cancer is available online in many community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• Read all about cancer for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Watch the video Our Mob and Cancer.