Eye Cancer

Many times, an ophthalmologist finds the melanoma during a routine eye examination, because intraocular melanoma often has no glaringly obvious symptoms. In fact the most common symptom is painless loss of vision.

Those with eye cancer may also experience some other seemingly insignificant symptoms like :

·      Having trouble seeing

·      Losing part of the field of vision

·      Seeing flashes of light

·      Seeing spots, squiggly lines, or floating objects (floaters)

·      Having a dark spot on the iris

Sometimes people with eye cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer.

Doctors use many tests to diagnose cancer and find out if it has metastasized (spread). Some tests may also determine which treatments may be the most effective. For most types of cancer, a biopsy is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of cancer. However, for eye melanoma, a diagnosis can often be made without a biopsy.

As mentioned earlier, most cases of melanoma are found during a regular eye examination. The doctor will examine the eye with a lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope and a slit lamp (a microscope with a light attached to it).

If you want to know more about eye cancer you should read the original article published on Cancer.Net.

It’s important to stay up to date on eye health information, especially because some eye conditions like glaucoma, besides eye cancer, have no symptoms. Getting an annual eye exam can easily be forgotten, especially with work, family and other obligations. Drop in at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore in Florida for eye exam at the earliest. You can schedule an eye exam with an Independent Doctor of Optometry.