Eye Cancer: Symptoms and its Treatment

In India, eye cancer is a rare eye disease that is mostly seen in adults. It is always better to be aware of the symptoms of eye cancer along with its treatment so that you are well prepared to combat that eye disease. In this blog, we deep dive into the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of eye cancer. Let’s start by uncovering the eye cancer symptoms.

Symptoms of Eye Cancer

Eye cancer may go unnoticed when it is at a very early stage. However, you should be vigilant to check the following eye cancer symptoms (in adults): Eye flashes or floaters Increase in the size of the sclera (i.e. white part of the eye) and red blood vessels Sudden emergence of a mole or whitening of skin around the eye Blurry vision Grey shadows in the vision Protopsis or bulging of either one or both the eyes Did you know that the signs of eye cancer in children are different from the above-listed symptoms! If eye cancers in children (and adults) are picked up early, they can be successfully cured by the correct eye cancer treatment. Here are the common eye cancer symptoms (for children): Sudden twitching of the eyes as if they are looking in different directions Whitening of the centre of the eye Excessive or too much tearing Redness and swelling of the eye Melanoma is one of the most common eye cancer types in adults, whereas Retinoblastoma is a childhood cancer that usually affects kids below the age of 5. Knowing the risk factors will make it easier to look into different options necessary for beating the menace of eye cancer.

Eye cancer may go unnoticed when it is at a very early stage. However, you should be vigilant to check the following eye cancer symptoms (in adults):

• Eye flashes or floaters
• Increase in the size of the sclera (i.e. white part of the eye) and red blood vessels
• Sudden emergence of a mole or whitening of skin around the eye
• Blurry vision
• Grey shadows in the vision
• Protopsis or bulging of either one or both the eyes

Did you know that the signs of eye cancer in children are different from the above-listed symptoms! If eye cancers in children (and adults) are picked up early, they can be successfully cured by the correct eye cancer treatment.

Here are the common eye cancer symptoms (for children):

• Sudden twitching of the eyes as if they are looking in different directions
• Whitening of the centre of the eye
• Excessive or too much tearing
• Redness and swelling of the eye

Melanoma is one of the most common eye cancer types in adults, whereas Retinoblastomais a childhood cancer that usually affects kids below the age of 5. Knowing the risk factors will make it easier to look into different options necessary for beating the menace of eye cancer.

Things You Must Know About Eye Cancer

You should always watch out for factors that amplify the chances of getting eye cancer. On the contrary, having one or more of these risk factors doesn’t necessarily mean that you will develop eye cancer.
As it is rightly said, ‘Better be safe than sorry!

Here are a few risk factors that may be causing the growth of cancerous cells in the eyes:

• People with lighter eyes, fairer skin, and blonde hair have more chances of developing eye cancer.
• Eye cancer is more common in men than in women.
• The risk of developing eye cancer increases with age.
• People with a family history of cancer are more likely to develop eye cancer.
• Moles in the eyes are normally harmless and do not interfere with the vision.

In rarest conditions, the development of atypical mole syndrome (or freckle of the eye) slightly increases the risk of eye cancer.
If you are under the risk radar and observe symptoms of eye cancer, you need to see your eye doctor at the earliest.

Eye Cancer Treatment

Catching the eye cancer symptoms at an early stage holds the key to beat eye cancer. Early screening of eye cancer based on the eye cancer symptoms should be taken up on a high priority.

Here are the major steps involved in eye cancer treatment:

Step 1: Diagnosis

If the eye doctor suspects eye cancer, (s)he will perform a biopsy to ascertain the suspicion.

Step 2: Staging

If the unwanted growth is Melanoma (or eye cancer), the doctor will have to do staging of cancer. Here a physical examination is performed to check how far cancer has metastasized.
Stages of eye cancer range from 0 to 4. Stage 0 is localized superficial spread of cancer, whereas Stage 4 means that cancer has metastasized to other organs of the body.

Step 3: Treatment Options

Eye cancer treatment entirely depends on the stage of cancer. Here are some of the common options when it comes to eye cancer treatment:

• Radiation:

It is the most commonly used treatment method for eye cancer. This procedure kills the cancer cells using radioactive elements.

• Chemotherapy:

It is also one of the widely used methods for eye cancer treatment. This treatment is required only if the eye cancer is at a very advanced stage. During chemotherapy sessions, drugs like Methotrexate, Thiotepa, and Chlorambucil are given to the patient in pill (or injection) form. 

• Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT):

An Infrared Light (or Laser) is used to degenerate (or kill) the tumour.

• Surgery:

Surgery is the last resort for eye cancer treatment. In the surgical process, the doctor partly or completely removes the affected part of the eye. 
On the completion of eye cancer treatment, you should keep a close watch on the side effects that accompany the treatment. You should consult the eye doctor when you experience any side effects:

• Formation of cataracts as a side-effect of radiation and chemotherapy
• Vision loss due to complications in laser therapy (or surgery)

Eye Cancer Specialists in India

Irrespective of the stage of eye cancer, it is recommended to visit the best eye cancer treatment centre in India. It will be beneficial if the eye centre has a pan-India presence so that treatment can be availed at any location.

Centre for Sight is the best eye cancer treatment centre in India. Our in-house team of eye cancer specialists (ocular oncologists) have professional brilliance and immense experience in diagnosing and treating all kinds of eye cancer.

Retain wonderful vision again by availing eye cancer treatment at Centre for Sight today…

Article: Eye Cancer: Symptoms and its Treatment.
Author: CFS Editorial Team  | Mar 02, 2021 | UPDATED 02:10 IST

*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.