Are you aware of eye cancer? Let's talk about it simply.

No matter how much we care about our eyes, we get worried when our vision gets a little blurry or our eyes get red. But have you ever thought that cancer can develop inside the eye? Yes, it's true. Although this is very rare, it is very important to be aware of it. So don't worry, today we will talk about what eye cancer is, what are its symptoms, and what are the treatments.

Simply put, what is eye cancer?

Eye cancer is the growth of cancer cells in your eye, that is, the eyeball and the surrounding areas. Normally, cells in our body divide and grow in a controlled manner. But in cancer, these cells start dividing rapidly and grow together uncontrollably, forming a tumor.

There are two types of these nuts:

• Benign: These are not cancerous. They form in one place and stay there, and do not spread to other parts of the body.
• Malignant: These are what we call cancers. These tumors can grow and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

The best thing is that if eye cancer is detected and treated early, there is a much greater chance of preventing its spread and curing it.

Are there types of eye cancer?

Yes, there are several types of eye cancer. Doctors classify them based on where the cancer starts, the location of the eye, and the type of cells. Let's take a look at the main types.

Intraocular Melanomas

This is the most common type of eye cancer in adults. It develops from cells called melanocytes, which give our skin its color. Just like melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, it most often develops in the middle layer of the eye (uvea).

• Iris Melanoma: This occurs in the colored part of the eye, the iris. This may be a new spot on the colored part of the eye that gradually grows larger. These grow slowly.
• Ciliary Body Melanoma: This develops in the muscles that move the lens of the eye to adjust for near and far vision.
• Choroidal Melanoma: This develops in the layer that supplies blood to the retina and the front of the eye. Melanoma of the eye most commonly develops in this area.
• Conjunctival Melanoma: A type of melanoma that develops in the thin membrane that covers the white of the eye. This is very rare.

Eyelid and Orbital Cancer

These develop in tissues close to the eye, such as the eyelids, tear glands, and the muscles that move the eye.

• Squamous cell carcinoma: Develops from the cells on the top of the skin.
• Basal cell carcinoma: Develops from the basal cells at the top of the skin.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma: Forms inside the muscles.

Retinoblastoma

This is a cancer that develops in the retina at the back of the eye. It is most common in children under the age of 5 .

Intraocular Lymphoma

This is a rare cancer that develops in white blood cells called lymphocytes. People over the age of 50 and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.

What are the symptoms of eye cancer?

Most of the time, eye cancer doesn't show any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms only appear when the tumor has grown a little and is interfering with the function of the eye. But don't be afraid that you have cancer just because you have these symptoms. These symptoms can also be seen in other minor eye diseases. The best thing to do is to see a doctor as soon as possible if you feel something like this.

What are the risk factors for developing eye cancer?

Although the exact cause has not been found, researchers have found that certain factors may increase the risk of developing eye cancer.

• Age: People over the age of 50 are at higher risk. However, the type we talked about earlier, ``Retinoblastoma,'' only occurs in young children.
• Skin color: People with fair skin are at higher risk.
• Eye color: People with light-colored eyes, such as blue and green, are at higher risk than those with dark brown eyes.
• Hereditary conditions: Some genetic conditions may increase the risk.
• Sun exposure: There is some evidence that frequent exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays may also have some effect, but research is still being conducted on this.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

If you have any symptoms, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist. He or she will do several tests to rule out other conditions before confirming whether you have cancer.

1. Eye Exam

The doctor will examine your eyes carefully. He will look for new black spots and swollen blood vessels. He will use special equipment for this.

• Ophthalmoscope: An instrument with a light used to view parts of the back of the eye, such as the retina.
• Slit lamp: A microscope-like instrument that magnifies and clearly views the front and back parts of the eye.

2. Scans (Imaging)

Cancer can often be detected through eye exams and scans.

• Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to create images inside the eye. The size and location of the tumor can be accurately determined.
• Fluorescein angiography: A special dye is injected into the blood vessels to examine blood flow in the blood vessels inside the eye.

If there is a suspicion that the cancer has spread beyond the eye, tests such as CT scans , MRI scans , and PET scans may be performed.

3. Biopsy

This involves taking a very small piece of tissue from the tumor and examining it under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This can provide a lot of information, such as the type of cancer and its genetic changes. This information is very important for planning treatment.

How is cancer treated?

Treatment depends on the type of cancer, its size, how far it has spread, and your overall health. If it's a slow-growing tumor, your doctor may decide to monitor it for a while rather than treat it right away.

There are several main treatment methods:

Radiation Therapy

This is a commonly used treatment for eye cancer.

• Brachytherapy: This involves surgically implanting a tiny disk containing a radioactive material near the tumor. The radiation emitted from this disk destroys the cancer cells.
• External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): A machine outside the body delivers targeted radiation to the tumor.

Surgery

Surgery is the best option, especially for small, non-spreading tumors.

• Iridectomy: Removal of part of the iris.
• Iridocyclectomy: Removal of part of the iris and ciliary body.
• Enucleation: If the tumor is large or if treatment cannot save vision, the entire eyeball may need to be removed. This may be painful to hear, but it may be necessary to save life. After surgery, an artificial eye is implanted to match the other eye.
• Orbital exenteration: If the cancer has spread to the tissues around the eye, the eyeball and some of the surrounding tissue may need to be removed.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy uses heat from laser beams to destroy cancer cells. It is sometimes used to prevent cancer from coming back after radiation therapy.

Other treatments

If the cancer has spread or is not responding to other treatments, treatments such as immunotherapy , targeted therapy , or chemotherapy may be considered.

Can eye cancer be completely cured?

This depends on many factors. Things like the type of cancer, its size, and how far it has spread affect it. But the most important thing is that if the cancer is detected and treated while it is still inside the eye, that is, before it has spread to other parts of the body, the cure rate is very high.

That's why we always say that if you notice any unusual changes in your eyes or if you have a vision problem, don't ignore it and see a doctor immediately. It's especially important to get regular eye exams.

Eye cancer, eye cancer sinhala, cancer symptoms, eye cancer, melanoma sinhala, retinoblastoma, ophthalmologist, eye tumors, vision loss