A family skydive for Moorfields 

Eye cancer is an umbrella term that includes several different cancer types. The form of cancer someone has depends on the type of cell it starts in.

There are different parts of the eye and some of these are more likely to get cancer than others.

Forms of ocular cancer:

• Choroidal naevi is a coloured growth at the back of the eye – essentially it is an eye freckle. It usually isn’t harmful but, like a freckle or mole on your skin, it can develop melanoma so your ophthalmologist or optometrist will want to examine it during regular check-ups.
• Haemangiomas are benign lumps caused when a cluster of blood vessels form at the back of the eye. They can distort vision so need to be checked as they might need treatment.
• Uveal melanoma is a rare malignant cancer, affecting just six people per million of the population. It develops from cells in the middle layer of tissue in the wall of the eyeball, called the uvea.
  • The uveal tract is made up of the choroid, ciliary body and iris.
  • Uveal melanoma can come from any of these components (e.g. choroidal melanoma).
  • Depending on the size of the tumour, treatment options include radiation therapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, or surgery.
• Secondary deposits originate from cancers elsewhere in the body. These are usually a feature of advanced metastatic cancer. It is important to distinguish these from other forms of eye tumour to make sure patients can be offered the correct treatment.