What Are Treatments for Melanoma of the Eye?
Ocular melanoma is a type of cancer that arises from the cells in the eye that make melanin. Ocular melanomas can form from the pigmented cells of the iris, but the majority of ocular melanomas form in the back of the eye and are called choroidal melanomas. Ocular melanomas, like other types of melanomas, can spread to other parts of the body; the eye doctor and a cancer doctor will evaluate this possibility. If the melanoma is small, the eye doctor may observe the tumor for a while to see if it gets larger or begin treatment, which may include resection surgery, radiotherapy, thermotherapy and removal of the eye completely (enucleation). If the cancer has spread, the patient may have to undergo additional therapies.
