What are Ocular Tumors?

Ocular tumors are cellular growths in the eye and its surroundings. These masses may be malignant or benign, and they may also originate within the eye or spread to this location from another area of the body. Symptoms and treatment vary depending on the type of tumor present. Classifications of eye tumors include choristoma, uveal melanoma, intraocular lymphoma, basal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, and diktyoma.

Practitioners of ocular oncology recognize various ocular tumors. Such tumors can occur in any part of the eye or within the eyelid. Benign or cancerous growths may occur. A choristoma is a cyst that presents as a frequent type of benign tumor found in the eye. Malignant eye cancers can occur as carcinomas, melanomas, lymphomas, blastomas, or epithileomas. Iris and ciliary body melanoma — or uveal melanoma — is believed by some to be the most common adult eye cancer, while retinoblastoma occurs most frequently in children. Heredity, UV radiation, and bacteria may play a role in many ocular tumors.

Eye cancer and eye tumors can be difficult to diagnose because they may present with no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they may vary somewhat by tumor type, but the most consistent indicators across all types seem to be vision disturbances and an abnormal eye appearance. Blurred vision, double vision, unexplained blind spots, and lessened peripheral vision may signal a potential problem. Eye appearance dysfunctions can manifest as an alteration in the color of any part of the eye, with red eye or whiteness in the pupil being two such examples. Crossed eyes or lazy eyes could also serve as symptoms, as does eye pain.

The basic cause of an ocular tumor is uncontrolled cell growth. When this process occurs in the eye, an eye neoplasm — or tissue mass — forms. If the eye tumor has metastasized from another location, the abnormal cell growth began in that location. Malignant tumor areas that have an increased likelihood of moving to the eye are the lungs, the breasts, the blood, the skin, and the urinary and excretory tracts. Some forms of ocular tumors may also spread from one eye to the other.

Treatment for ocular tumors varies by type and severity. Diagnosis will typically need to be confirmed by a certified oncologist. Surgical removal of the tumor is an oft-recommended course of action. This extraction may be achieved by removing affected areas or it may necessitate removal of the entire eye in the most urgent cases. When an eye must be removed, an eye implant can be inserted. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and laser therapy may prove essential in malignant cases as well.