Eye Cancer Melanoma

Melanoma

Melanoma eye cancer is a cancer that occurs in eye melanocyte cells that function to produce melanin. Melanin is a pigment that produces color on the skin, hair and eyes. Therefore melanoma can also occur in the skin.

Melanoma in the eye generally grows in the eye uvea tissue, which includes the iris tissue of the eye, the ciliary body, and the choroid tissue. Often melanoma eye cancer occurs in the part of the eye that is not visible when looking in the mirror. In addition, these cancers rarely cause specific symptoms in the early stages. Both cause melanoma eye cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage, and is usually found accidentally during routine eye examination. But as the cancer tissue grows, it will cause shape changes in pupils, blurred vision, and decreased vision ability.

Melanoma eye cancer can be treated well especially if it is still in its early stages and is small. Treatment of small cancers rarely impairs the patient's vision ability. Conversely, if the cancer is already large, the treatment provided can cause interference with the patient's vision.

Symptoms of Melanoma Eye Cancer

Most of the melanoma in the eye grows on the inside of the eye that tends to be invisible, making it difficult to detect. These cancers also rarely cause significant symptoms. If there are indications that appear, usually in the form:

1. Black spots appear on the irises of the eye.

2. The sense of seeing a flash of light.

3. Feeling there are spots or lines that block the view.

4. Blurred vision or loss of vision.

5. Changes in pupil shape.

6. Swelling of one eye.

7. Lumps on the enlarged eyelids or eyeballs.

Although these symptoms can also appear not because of eye cancer melanoma, but if you experience these symptoms, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist eye.

Causes and Risk Factors of Melanoma Eye Cancer

Melanoma eye cancer is caused by changes or DNA mutations in eye melanocyte cells resulting in uncontrolled cell growth. This uncontrolled growth melanoma tissue will cause damage to healthy eye tissue.

Melanoma can occur in various parts of the eye, either on the front of the eye such as irises and ciliary bodies, or on the back or precisely in the choroid tissue. But in rare cases, melanoma cancer can grow at the very front of the eye, namely in the conjunctiva.

Genetic mutations in eye cells are unclear, but there are some things that are suspected to trigger such mutations, including:

- Fair skin.

- Sun exposure and ultraviolet, including frequent use of ultraviolet light (sunbed) to darken the skin (tanning). But this can not be proven with certainty.

- Age factor. The risk of eye cancer will increase with age.

Eye color. People who have bright eye color (eg blue, green, or gray) have a higher risk of eye cancer.

- Derivative skin disorders. Skin that has a tendency to form abnormal moles in various areas of the skin (dysplastic nevus syndrome), generally at risk of developing into melanoma in the eyes and skin.

- Nevus of Ota. Nevus of Ota or oculodermal melanocytosis is a condition in which people have a brownish spot on the center of the eye (uvea) or the part between the whites of the eyeballs and the nerves of the eye. People who have Nevus of Ota can be at risk of developing melanoma eye cancer.

Until now, various things that are suspected to be a risk factor for a person experiencing melanoma eye cancer are still being investigated, especially environmental and occupational factors. Several types of occupations that are thought to increase a person's risk of developing melanoma eye cancer are:

Fishermen.
Workers related to chemicals.
Laundry workers.
Farmers.
Welder.
Chef.

However, in terms of proof is still debated, because there is no research that states the direct relationship between these types of work with the occurrence of melanoma eye cancer.

Diagnosis of Melanoma Eye Cancer

Melanoma eye cancer is often asymptomatic (no symptoms) so a detailed examination is necessary to confirm the presence of cancer. Several methods of diagnosis that can be done to ensure the presence of this cancer are:

Eye examination. This examination is done by checking the physical condition of the eyes from the outside of the eyes, blood vessels, and the inside of the eye. Eye examination can also be done by using ophthalmoscopy to see the condition of the inside of the eye.

Eye Ultrasound. Eye ultrasound serves to provide an overview of the condition of the inside of the eye by using sound waves. The ultrasound device will be placed on the eyelid with closed eye condition.

Eye Angiography. Eye angiography serves to map the condition of blood vessels in the eye. Previously, patients will be injected with contrast substances into the blood vessels to map the blood vessels of the eyes and tumors clearly and accurately.

Biopsy. Biopsy is done by taking samples of eye tissue to detect the presence of cancer cells. However, a biopsy should not always be done to diagnose the presence or absence of melanoma eye cancer in patients, as this action is at risk of damage to the eye.

Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT). This method is done by taking a picture of eye condition using light waves.

To determine the extent of cancer spread, doctors can also perform supportive diagnostic methods such as:

Chest X-ray.
Liver function tests.
Ultrasound abdominal.
CT scan.
MRI.

Diagnosis also needs to be done to determine the size of melanoma eye cancer that can be classified as follows:

Small. If the melanoma tissue has a width of 5-16 mm and a thickness of up to 1-3 mm.

Medium. If the melanoma tissue has a width of no more than 16 mm with a thickness of about 3.1-8 mm.

Big. If the melanoma tissue has a width of more than 16 mm or a thickness of more than 8 mm.

Melanoma eye cancer can be categorized as an advanced stage of cancer if it has spread to other tissues of the eye, or cancer is the recurrence of previous eye cancer that has occurred.

The spread of melanoma eye cancer generally occurs in tissues beyond the eyeball (extraocular extension), such as the optic nerve. Recurrent eye cancers can also occur not only in the eyes, but can also occur in other parts of the body such as the liver.