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Eye neoplasms

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Eye neoplasm
ICD-10 C69
ICD-9 190
OMIM [1]
DiseasesDB [2]
MedlinePlus [3]
eMedicine /
MeSH {{{MeshNumber}}}


Eye cancerEdit

Origin and locationEdit






  • The most common malignant intraocular tumor in children is retinoblastoma, affecting approximately 325 children per year in North America. Early detection has allowed for cures exceeding 95%.[1]
  • The second most common is medulloepithelioma (also called diktyoma) which can occur in the ciliary body and the uvea of the eye.


Orbital dermoid cysts are benign choristomas which are typically found at the junction of sutures, most commonly at the fronto-zygomatic suture. Large deep orbital dermoid cysts can cause pressure effects on the muscles and optic nerve, leading to diplopia and loss of vision.

Signs and symptomsEdit

  • Melanomas (choroidal, ciliary body and uveal) - In the early stages there may be no symptoms (the person does not know there is a tumor until an ophthalmologist or optometrist looks into the eye with an ophthalmoscope during a routine test). As the tumor grows, symptoms can be blurred vision, decreased vision, double vision, eventual vision loss and if they continue to grow the tumor can break past the retina causing retinal detachment. Sometimes the tumor can be visible through the pupil.
  • A nevus is a benign, freckle in the eye. These should be checked out and regular checks on the eye done to ensure it hasn't turned into a melanoma.
  • Iris and conjuctival tumors (melanomas) - Present as a dark spot. Any spot which continues to grow on the iris and the conjunctiva should be checked out.
  • Retinoblastoma - Strabismus (crossed eyes), a whitish or yellowish glow through the pupil, decreasing/loss of vision, sometimes the eye may be red and painful. Retinoblastoma can occur in one or both eyes. This tumor occurs in babies and young children. It is called RB for short. Check photographs, normal healthy eyes would have the red eye reflex, but a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex can indicate a tumor or some other kind of eye disease. Any photos of a child/children which have a white/yellow dot instead of the red eye reflex should be checked out.


  • Laser therapy
  • Plaque therapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Enucleation of the Eye - Removal of the eye, but the muscles and eyelids are left intact. An implant is inserted, then the person wears a conformer shield and later the person will have their prosthesis made and fitted (the prosthesis is made by someone called an ocularist and is made to look like their real eye)
  • Evisceration - Removal of the eye contents, leaving the sclera or the white part of the eye.
  • Exenteration - Removal of the eye, all orbital contents, which can involve the eyelids as well. A special prosthesis is made to cover the defect and improve appearance.
  • Iridectomy - Removal of the affected piece of the iris
  • Choroidectomy - Removal of the choroid layer (the vascular tissue sandwiched between the sclera and the retina)
  • Iridocyclectomy - Removal of the iris plus the ciliary body muscle.
  • Eyewall resection - Cutting into the eye to remove a tumor e.g. melanoma. This operation can be quite difficult to perform.
  • Chemotherapy


Choroidal tumorsEdit

Conjunctival tumorsEdit

File:Conjunctival carcinoma - 6.jpg

Ocular oncologyEdit


See alsoEdit


External linksEdit

Specific typesEdit

Template:Eye tumors


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