Diagnosing and Treating an Eye Tumor

Tumors are masses of abnormal cells; they can be cancerous, but they’re often benign. 

Primary eye cancer, masses that develop within the eye such as ocular melanoma, is very rare. Most that develop are secondary or metastasized, meaning the cancer developed elsewhere in your body, such as the lungs or bowel, and has spread to the eye.

Malignant melanomas usually develop from simple moles. That's why you have to check moles often for changes. If you have one in or near your eye, make sure your ophthalmologist or dermatologist examines it regularly.

Ocular melanomas form from the cells that give the eyes color, aka pigmented cells. They arise in the three main parts of the eye: the iris (colored part); the choroid, located between the retina at the back and the white outer part of the eyeball; and the ciliary body, which connects the iris to the choroid.

At Retina Specialists, our expert team of board-certified ophthalmologists understands that, while “tumor” is a hard word to hear, understanding how we diagnose and treat an eye tumor can help ease you through the process. Here’s what you need to know:

Eye tumor symptoms

Like skin moles, eye moles form when certain cells amass into a cluster. The first sign is often an abnormal brown spot on or in your eye, called a nevus. They don’t always produce symptoms, but when they do, they may include:

• Light sensitivity
• Lumps on the eyelid or on inner structures
• Changes in the shape of the pupil
• Bulging, redness, or swelling
• Changes in eye movement
• Eye pain
• Visual distortion
• Blurry vision
• Loss of vision
• Floaters
• Glaucoma

Eye melanomas are often found during routine exams, which is why it’s so important to have regular eye exams. Detecting cancer early means more and better treatment options; however, not all eye cancers can be found early.

Diagnosing an eye tumor

At Retina Specialists, our ophthalmologists diagnose eye tumors using a variety of tests, which give them additional information about the growth they found in the exam. Common tests include:

• Eye ultrasounds
• Optical coherence tomography (CT)
• Fluorescein angiography (dye highlights tumor)
• Fine needle biopsy

These tests provide the tumor’s location, size, and type, which helps the doctor plan the specifics of your treatment.

Benign growths within the eye usually have well-defined margins and are typically flat or slightly raised. Malignant growths usually have irregular shapes and color changes, and they may contain fluid on top.

Treating an eye tumor

How your ophthalmologist treats a tumor depends on its location and if it’s cancerous or benign.

For a benign tumor on the outside of your eye, the doctor can remove it with cauterization or minor surgery. If it’s located inside your eye and isn’t interfering with your vision, they may recommend regular monitoring, with checkups every 6-12 months. 

If you have a cancerous eye tumor, you may be treated by a team of doctors, including your ophthalmologist and an oncologist (cancer specialist). Your Retina Specialists ophthalmologist can surgically remove the cancer, as well as provide laser and radiation treatments.

In rare cases, such as with a very large tumor or a loss of vision in the eye because of the tumor, they may need to remove your eyeball. 

If you’ve noticed a brown spot on the white or colored part of your eye, you need to come into Retina Specialists to have it checked out. Call us at any of our five Texas offices — in Dallas, DeSoto, Plano, Mesquite, and Waxahachie — to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists.