Laser therapy uses a highly focused, high-energy light beam to burn tissue. It is used much less often than radiation therapy. But it can be effective for very small melanomas, especially for those near the optic nerve, since it causes less nerve damage than radiation therapy. Several laser treatments are usually given 6 or 8 weeks apart.

Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT): This form of laser treatment uses infrared light to heat the tumor and cause it to die. It works well for choroidal melanomas because the melanin in these cells absorbs the light energy. TTT is useful for treating small melanomas, often as an adjuvant (additional) treatment after brachytherapy (plaque radiotherapy). Usually 1 to 3 treatments are given to kill the tumor.

Possible side effects of laser therapy

As with radiation therapy, the main concern with laser therapy is damage to parts of the eye that result in loss of vision. The risk depends on the size and location of the tumor.

Last Medical Review: 03/03/2009
Last Revised: 05/14/2009