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Summary

Cancer of the eye is uncommon. It can affect the outer parts of the eye, such as the eyelid, which are made up of muscles, skin and nerves. If the cancer starts inside the eyeball it's called intraocular cancer. The most common intraocular cancers in adults are melanoma and lymphoma. The most common eye cancer in children is retinoblastoma, which starts in the cells of the retina. Cancer can also spread to the eye from other parts of the body.

Treatment for eye cancer varies by the type and by how advanced it is. It may include surgery, radiation therapy, freezing or heat therapy, or laser therapy.

Start Here

• General Information about Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• General Information about Retinoblastoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Is Eye Cancer? (American Cancer Society)

Symptoms

• Eye Symptoms (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Signs and Symptoms of Eye Cancer (American Cancer Society)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Can Eye Cancer Be Found Early? (American Cancer Society)
• Dilating Eye Drops (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
• Stages of Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Stages of Retinoblastoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Tests for Eye Cancer (American Cancer Society)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Risk Factors for Eye Cancer (American Cancer Society)

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Retinoblastoma (National Cancer Institute)
• Treatment of Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Option Overview (Intraocular [Uveal] Melanoma) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Option Overview (Retinoblastoma) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

• After Treatment: Living as an Eye Cancer Survivor (American Cancer Society)

Related Issues

• Nevus (Eye Freckle) (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Cancers Affecting the Retina (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
• Eyelid Growths (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Retinoblastoma: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)