Cancer Eye

Cancer and the Eyes

The eyes have been relatively protected from the curse of cancer as compared to other organs. Cancer of the eye is uncommon but the types that do affect eyes are dreadful and unfortunately doing not respond to medical line of treatment. The only remedy is to remove the eyeball. Malignancy of the eye occurs in the following cases:

Retinoblastoma in Newborns and Infants

Retinoblastoma or glooms is the commonest type of cancer affecting infants. It involves the cells of retina which line the back of the eye. The onset of the disease is either before or soon after birth. The child reveals a white catlike reflex from the pupil. If you see an eye with this tumor through the pupil, it is white like a cat’s eye in the dark. It may be missed in its early stages. The white reflex through the pupil in an infant calls for a thorough scrutiny and examination by an eye specialist to exclude the presence of a cancerous growth.

An internal infection, endophthalmitis with pus, or a congenital cataract can be present but the diagnosis of retinoblastoma is conclusive. If and when confirmed

Y an examination under anesthesia, the verdict is tragic with social and emotional implications. The eyeball has to be removed. The alternate form of treatment is to radiate the growth with cobalt, but the growth always recurs. It can affect the other eye in 25 per cent of cases. The examination of the other eye as a routine is called for in all such cases.

The decision to remove the other eye is always deferred and attempts are made as early as possible to save the eye with cobalt radiation.

Cancer of Black Part of the Eye (Iris, Choroids)

This disease is called melanoma of the choroids, iris or colliery body. All of them can be involved. It is uncommon in brown and black eyes because the melanin pigment protects the cells. This kind of malignancy is common in western countries where light-colored, i.e. blue and green pupils, with no pigments are common. The tumor looks like a solid mass on the retina or the pupil.

The treatment in each case is radiation or laser photocoagulation. In advanced stages the whole eyeball is removed.

Cancer of the Lid

The malignancy of the skin of the lid is seen continuously as a firm or solid growth that has an ‘adherent’ and non-movable skin. It can be mistaken for an ordinary cyst or sebaceous gland swelling. The diagnosis is made by a clinical assessment, followed by a biopsy section in a pathology laboratory.

The treatment is to remove the growth with the substance of the lid around. This is followed by radiation and a close observation periodically for the next five years.