A Complete Guide to Eye Cancers; Types, Symptoms, and Treatments

Treatment; Observation

Though cancer should be treated as early as possible, it is not always critical to begin treatment on some forms of eye cancer. If a tumor is too small and not growing, or if the patient has no symptoms at all, the doctor may decide to hold off on treatment and observe the area for a period of time. Active surveillance is recommended for senior patients, those who are sick, patients who only have one useful eye or if treatment will cause more pain than relief. Treating eye cancer comes with side effects more often than not, so some doctors may prefer to delay the process until it is absolutely necessary.

Treatment; Radiation

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment method that involves using a high-energy beam to destroy cancer cells. The two types of radiation used to treat eye cancer are external beam radiation and brachytherapy. External beam radiation is recommended for eyelid tumors, lymphoma, and orbital tumors. However, it kills cells from the surrounding area as well. Brachytherapy, on the other hand, is more sparing because the radioactive plaque is custom made to the dimensions of the tumor, so no surrounding tissue or cell is harmed. The rice-sized plaque is surgically placed directly on the tumor to kill cells and reduce its size. Possible side effects include dry eyes, loss of eyelashes and cataracts.