Eye cancer or Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa (adjacent parts). Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye. ...

Eye cancer or Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa (adjacent parts). Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye.

Origin and location: Eye cancers can be primary (starts within the eye) and metastatic cancer (spread to the eye from another organ). The two most common cancers that spread to the eye from another organ are breast cancer and lung cancer. Other less common sites of origin include the prostate, kidney, thyroid, skin, colon lymphoma and leukemia/blood cancer.

Types:Tumors in the eye and eye orbit can be benign/not cancerous like dermoid cysts, or malignant/cancerous like rhabdomyosarcoma and retinoblastoma. The most common eyelid tumor is called basal cell carcinoma. This tumor can grow around the eye but rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Other types of common eyelid cancers include squamous carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

The most common malignant primary intraocular tumor in adults is uveal melanoma. The most common malignant intraocular tumor in children is called retinoblastoma. Affecting approximately 325 children per year in North America, early detection has allowed for cures exceeding 95%

The most common orbital malignancy is orbital lymphoma. This tumor can be diagnosed by tissue biopsy. Most patients with orbital lymphoma can be offered chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Orbital dermoid cysts are benign which are typically found at the junction of sutures, most commonly at the front suture. Large deep orbital dermoid cysts can have cause pressure effects on the muscles and optic/eye nerve, leading to loss of vision.