Eye melanoma

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Screening and diagnosis Treatment Prevention Coping skills

Introduction

You may associate melanoma with skin cancer and the growth or spread of moles on the surface of your skin. However, melanoma doesn't occur just on your skin. It can also occur in your eyes and, rarely, in internal organs.

Melanoma develops in the cells that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color. Your eyes also have melanin-producing cells. Eye melanoma most commonly develops in the uvea, the vascular layer of your eye sandwiched between the retina and the white of the eye (sclera). Also called ocular melanoma, eye melanoma can occur in the front part of the uvea (iris and ciliary body) or in the back part of the uvea (choroid layer).

Melanoma that originates in your eye is termed a primary eye cancer. Eye melanoma is the most common type of primary eye cancer in adults, but it's rare. If the melanoma begins elsewhere and then spreads to your eye, it's called a secondary eye cancer; this also is rare.

Treatment is available for eye melanoma. The earlier it's detected, the better your chance for successful treatment. Getting regular eye exams can help detect eye melanoma at an earlier stage.

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Signs and symptoms