Get The Facts About Ocular Melanoma
You've probably seen numerous posts and ads reminding you to wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun in order to prevent melanoma. Most often, these ads are referring to melanoma of the skin. Indeed, this is a very serious condition and one you need to be aware of — but there is another type of melanoma that deserves your attention, too. Ocular melanoma is a cancer of the melanin-producing cells in your eyes. Here's what you need to know.
Ocular melamona is not necessarily related to sun exposure.
Most people who develop melanoma of the skin have been exposed to large amounts of UV radiation from the sun or heat lamps. While UV exposure is a risk factor for ocular melanoma, it is not as strongly linked as with melanoma of the skin. Ocular melanoma seems to have a really strong genetic component. If your parents or other close relatives have it, then you're at a higher risk.
Ocular melanoma does not cause symptoms in the early stages.
You might figure that you'll just watch out for the signs of ocular melanoma and see an eye doctor if anything seems amiss. Unfortunately, this approach is flawed. Ocular melanoma does not cause any obvious symptoms until it is very serious. On the other hand, your eye doctor can detect this condition very easily simply by looking in your eyes with a special type of microscope. Any tumors or freckles at the back of your eye will be immediately visible. They may not know right away whether what they're seeing is melanoma — you'll need to have further testing to make that determination — but if melanoma is there, your eye doctor will take notice.
Early treatment is key.
Ocular melanoma, just like melanoma of the skin, can progress very quickly. As such, early diagnosis is important so that treatment can begin right away. If the condition is caught in its early stages, your eye doctor will likely refer you to a surgeon who can remove the tumor and prescribe radiation therapy to keep it from spreading. In more serious cases, you may need to have your eye removed to prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
Sadly, since ocular melanoma seems to occur largely based on genetics, there's not a lot you can do to prevent it. However, you can ensure it's diagnosed and treated early by always seeing your eye doctor for regular exams.