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Coping and support

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living with cancer newsletter

Subscribe to our Living with cancer newsletter to stay up to date on cancer topics.

Coping with vision changes
If your cancer treatment causes total loss of vision in one eye, such as happens when an eye is removed, it's still possible to do most things you were able to do with two working eyes. But it may take a few months to adjust to your new vision.

Having only one eye affects your ability to judge distance. And it may be more difficult to be aware of things around you, especially things occurring on the side without vision.

Ask your doctor for a referral to a support group or an occupational therapist, who can help devise strategies for coping and adjusting to your altered vision.

References
  1. Augsburger JJ, et al. Uveal melanoma. In: Yanoff M, et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199400089-5/0/1869/0.html. Accessed May 4, 2010.
  2. Intraocular (eye) melanoma treatment. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/intraocularmelanoma/patient/allpages. Accessed May 4, 2010.
  3. Simar K. The fundamentals of uveal melanoma. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2009;13:483.
  4. Shields CL, et al. Ocular melanoma: Relatively rare but requiring respect. Clinics in Dermatology. 2009;27:122.
  5. Gragoudas ES, et al. Ocular melanoma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 6, 2010.
  6. Surgical procedures. American Society of Ocularists. http://www.ocularist.org/resources_surgical_procedures.asp. Accessed May 6, 2010.
  7. Ihrig C, et al. Acquired monocular vision rehabilitation program. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development. 2007;44:593.
  8. Occupational therapy services for individuals with visual impairment. American Occupational Therapy Association. http://www.aota.org/Practitioners/PracticeAreas/Rehab/Tools/38508.aspx. Accessed May 6, 2010.
  9. Shopping guide for sunglasses. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/documents/SunglassShoppingGuide0810.pdf. Accessed May 6, 2010.
  10. Roberston DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 22, 2010.
  11. How is eye cancer diagnosed? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_eye_cancer_diagnosed_74.asp. Accessed May 24, 2010.
  12. Surgery. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_74.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed May 24, 2010.
  13. Damato B, et al. Surgical resection of uveal melanoma. In: Albert DM, et al. Albert & Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier;2008:4913.
DS00707 June 5, 2010

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