The cancerous growth, known as melanoma, occurs in the cells that make melanin, the pigment responsible for the color of your skin. You can get melanoma in your eyes because they produce melanin. Ocular melanoma is another name for this eye cancer.
The majority of ocular melanomas develop in the area of the eye that is invisible in a mirror. Because of this, eye melanoma is challenging to find. In addition, early indications or symptoms of eye melanoma are often minimal.
There may be no symptoms or indicators of eye melanoma. When they do occur, signs and symptoms of eye melanoma can include a sensation of flashes or specks of dust in your vision (floaters), a growing dark spot on the iris, a change in the shape of the dark circle (pupil) at the center of your eye, poor or blurry vision in one eye and loss of peripheral vision.
The exact cause of eye melanoma is unclear. Doctors are aware that when errors arise in the DNA of healthy eye cells, eye melanoma develops. The DNA errors tell the cells to grow and multiply out of control, so the mutated cells go on living when they would normally die. A melanoma of the eye is created when the mutant cells build up in the eye.
The cells of your eye’s middle layer are where eye melanoma most frequently manifests itself (uvea). Eye melanoma can affect any of the three sections of the uvea; the colored portion of the eye’s front is called the iris. The layer of blood vessels and connective tissue called the choroid layer, which is located at the back of the uvea between the sclera and the retina. And the translucent fluid (aqueous humor), which is secreted into the eye by the ciliary body, which is located in the front of the uvea.
Although these types of eye melanoma are extremely uncommon, they can also develop on the conjunctiva, the eye’s outermost layer, the eye socket, and the eyelid.
Eye melanomas can be treated. Some tiny eye melanoma treatments may not effect your vision. However, treatment for large eye melanomas typically causes some vision loss.
A growing eye melanoma may cause glaucoma. Signs and symptoms of glaucoma may include eye pain and redness, as well as blurry vision. Large eye melanomas often cause vision loss in the affected eye and can cause complications, such as retinal detachment, that also cause vision loss.
Small eye melanomas can cause some vision loss if they occur in critical parts of the eye. You may have difficulty seeing in the center of your vision or on the side. Very advanced eye melanomas can cause complete vision loss.
Eye melanoma can spread outside of the eye and to distant areas of the body, including the liver, lungs and bones.
At The Eye Center- Dr. Mahnaz Naveed Shah & Associates our team of eight ophthalmology subspecialists/ eye specialists, eye surgeons who are considered amongst the very best eye specialists in Karachi and in Pakistan, have the diagnostic and treatment capabilities to treat from the simplest to the most complex patients. We work hard to provide our patients with the best possible medical and surgical eye care, in a state of the art purpose built eye care facility. We offer the entire array of medical, laser and surgical treatments to help provide patients the best possible care in the most efficient, safe and ethical manner.
If you need an appointment, please contact us at 03041119544 during our working hours or leave us a WhatsApp message at +923028291799 and someone will connect with you. Walk-in appointments are also available for emergencies. We can also be reached through our web portal on www.surgicaleyecenter.org
