How is eye cancer treated?

The next few sections describe the various types of treatments used for eye melanomas and lymphomas. This is followed by a description of the most common approaches used based on the situation.

Making treatment decisions

After an eye cancer is found and staged, the cancer care team will discuss your treatment options with you. In choosing a treatment plan, factors to consider include the location and stage of the cancer, your overall health, the chances of curing the disease, and the possible impact of the treatment on vision.

It is important to take time and think about your choices. Because intraocular melanomas and lymphomas are rare, no matter what treatment you decide on, it should be done by doctors who are experienced in treating people with these cancers. If time permits it is often a good idea to seek a second opinion from an experienced doctor as well. A second opinion can provide more information and help you feel more confident about the treatment plan that is chosen.

Treatments of the eye might interfere with or cause complete loss of vision. Doctors have developed treatments to try to preserve vision whenever possible, but these treatments may not always be the best choice. Eye cancers can often be fatal if left untreated, and some patients must be given treatment regardless of the possible damage to the eye. On the other hand, some eye melanomas are small, grow very slowly (if at all), and can be watched carefully without treatment. This is why it is important to get the opinion of a skilled specialist in this field before deciding on treatment.