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People with eye cancer now have more treatment choices and more hope for survival than ever before. Doctors keep finding new treatments for eye cancer and ways to help people with eye cancer have better lives.
What Is Cancer of the Eye?
Eye cancer is a very rare kind of cancer that starts somewhere in or on the eye (on the surface, on the iris, or within the eye beneath the retina) or in the skin of cells around the eye (the eyelid). Because it is so rare, it is best for a person diagnosed with eye cancer to seek treatment from someone who specializes in this field. A person can ask their doctor to refer them to an eye cancer specialist.
The Anatomy of the Eye
The eye is an organ that collects light and sends it to the brain. The brain turns this light from the eye into pictures that allow people to see. The eye is made up of different parts.
The eyelids keep the eyes moist and shield them from light. The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the eyeball and lets the eyelid blink easily and cover the eye without irritating it. The cornea covers and protects the iris. The retina lines the inside of the eye and acts almost like film in a camera, doing the work that helps people to see.
The retina has a layer of blood vessels under it called the choroid or uvea. The choroid feeds the retina. It also has cells in it called melanocytes. These cells can sometimes grow into a malignant melanoma.