Eye cancer is a rare type of cancer. However, this diagnosis sounds quite menacing because of the fact that often patients with this pathology are treated too late for medical care when it is considered incurable. This is due to the fact that the disease for a long time can occur almost asymptomatically.
Causes of eye cancer
As with other types of cancer, there are no reliable reasons for the development of eye cancer. There are only a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of the onset of the disease:
- eyes gray, blue or green;
- a large number of moles on the body;
- regular long-term exposure to ultraviolet light;
- living in areas with an unfavorable ecological situation;
- weakened immune system;
- hereditary predisposition to the development of eye oncology.
Types of eye cancer
At the site of localization, the following types of eye cancers are classified:
- retinal cancer;
- cancer of the conjunctiva;
- cancer of the choroid;
- ocellus cancer;
- cancer of the lacrimal gland;
- cancer of the eyelid (most common).
Tumors of the eye are divided into the following types:
- melanoma ;
- sarcoma;
- carcinoma;
- retinoblastoma.
Symptoms of eye cancer
Signs of eye cancer are determined by a variety of malignant formation and its localization:
1. Retinal cancer is detected by progressive strabismus, the presence of intense pain. In the subsequent retinal detachment, the ability to see is completely lost.
2. In cancer of the conjunctiva, there is a progressive increase in the tumor, which may be a nodule, an outgrowth, or a dense whitish film.
3. Cancer of the choroid begins with a decrease in vision, the appearance of dark spots on the iris, changes in the shape of the pupil. In the future there are pains, the retina begins to exfoliate, an extubulbar node is formed, the eye protrudes and loses mobility.
4. The main signs of orbital cancer are as follows:
- deterioration of vision;
- trembling of the eyes;
- increased lacrimation;
- strabismus;
- protrusion of the eyeball;
- Stitching pain in the eye;
- appearance of opacity, spots before the eyes.
5. In case of cancer of the eyelid, thickening and papillomatous growths on conjunctiva of pinkish color are formed. In the future,
Treatment of eye cancer
The main methods of treatment for this pathology are:
- surgical intervention;
- radiation therapy ;
- chemotherapy.
If the size of the tumor is large, complete removal of the eyeball is possible with subsequent prosthetics. The probability of successful treatment with minimal consequences is higher the earlier it was started.