Select Page

Eye Cancer Facts

Cancer can develop in several structures in the eye area. These include:

Eyeball: The structures inside the eye where cancer can develop include the choroid, ciliary body, iris and retina.

The uvea, the middle layer of the eyeball, contains the:

  • Iris: The colored part of the eye. The pupil, a small opening the lets light come into the eyeball, is in the middle of the iris
  • Choroid: Thin layer around the eyeball that provides the eye with blood
  • Ciliary body: Made up of muscles inside eye that help it focus and cells where aqueous humor (clear liquid in front of eye) begins
  • Retina: The layer of cells in the back of the eye. The retina is connected by the optic nerve to the brain. Its cells are sensitive to light and help us see images. When light comes into the eye, it passes through the lens. This makes an image on the retina, which is then sent by the optic nerve to the brain.

Orbit: The space around and behind the eye has bony walls and contains important nerves, including the optic nerve, and muscles that move the eye.

Eyelid: Tumors that affect eyelids can be on the skin of the eyelid or on the inside layer of the eyelid (tarsus and conjunctiva).

Conjunctiva: Surface covering of the eye that also covers the inside of the eyelid

Lacrimal Gland: The gland, which makes tears, is in the upper outer quadrant of the orbit.

Lacrimal Sac/Duct: This structure, which drains the tears, is in the inner lower quadrant of the orbit near the nose.

Eye Cancer Types

Many types of cancer can affect the eye and the ocular structures.

Cancers involving the eyeball include:

  • Uveal melanoma (melanoma of the iris, choroid or ciliary body)
  • Retinoblastoma, which is the most frequent type of cancer affecting the eyeball in children

Cancers of the eyelids and surrounding skin include:

  • Basal cell carcinoma of eyelid
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of eyelid
  • Sebaceous carcinoma of eyelid
  • Melanoma of eyelid
  • Merkel cell carcinoma of eyelid
  • Adnexal carcinoma of eyelid

Cancers of the conjunctiva (surface covering of eyeball) include:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma of conjunctiva
  • Melanoma of conjunctiva
  • MALT lymphoma of conjunctiva

Orbital cancers include:

  • Orbital lymphoma
  • Orbital sarcoma (including rhabdomyosarcoma, myxoid sarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma)
  • Orbital and optic nerve meningioma
  • Metastatic tumors of orbit
  • Other carcinomas of orbit

Lacrimal gland tumors include:

  • Lymphoma of lacrimal gland
  • Adenoid cystic carcinoma of lacrimal gland
  • Pleomorphic adenoma of lacrimal gland
  • Other epithelial tumors of lacrimal gland

Lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct cancers include:

  • Squamous cell carcinomas of lacrimal sac
  • Transitional cell carcinoma of lacrimal sac and duct
  • Lacrimal sac lymphoma

We customize your treatment to include the latest technology and methods to treat eye cancer, which may include:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy including proton therapy
  • Targeted therapies
  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy (a new method that finds early metastatic disease from eye cancer to the lymph nodes)
  • The latest ophthalmic reconstructive procedures to preserve function and appearance in the eye and facial area

Become a Patient

At The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, our board-certified physicians provide cancer treatment to more than 12,000 patients annually at our locations in Fort Worth – Central Campus, Fort Worth – Southwest, Arlington, Weatherford, Burleson, Granbury, Mineral Wells, and Stephenville. We offer you the latest advances in chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biological therapy. We also offer you the opportunity to take advantage of groundbreaking cancer treatment available only through clinical trials and cancer research.

CyberKnife

The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body, including the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas and kidney. The treatment – which...

SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders now Offers Innovative SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel to Benefit Patients Undergoing Treatment for Prostate Cancer. SpaceOAR Hydrogel is Clinically Shown to Help Reduce Risk of Side Effects after Radiation Treatment. SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel –...

Hidden Scar Breast Cancer Surgery

Each year, approximately 253,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer that requires surgery. Many women are unaware of all the surgical options available, including less invasive approaches that can help restore their self-image and allow them to begin the emotional...

Nutritional Counseling

Good nutrition is essential for supporting you throughout your cancer treatment. Our registered and licensed dietitians can work with you to help lessen some of the side effects you may experience, which will not only help to ensure you are getting good nutrition, but...

Integrative Medicine

The Center TX also offers integrative medicine for our cancer patients under the direction of Dr. Oseni. Integrative medicine seeks to restore and maintain the health and wellness of cancer patients by understanding the patient’s unique set of circumstances and...

Complementary / Integrative Services

These services are for established patients. All support services are by appointment. Ancillary techniques and ancillary tests are those that assist in the diagnosis and/or treatment and are not necessarily a part of the original diagnosis and/or...

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a cancer-fighting methodology that uses either stand-alone drugs or a combination of drugs to relieve pain symptoms, control the growth of cancer cells and, ideally, eliminate cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used alone or in conjunction with surgery...

Clinical Trials

The physicians and staff at The Center firmly believe that giving our patients the opportunity to access the latest innovative and cutting edge therapies on cancer clinical trials represents the highest level of care that we can offer our patients. Our practice is...

Diagnostic Imaging

The earlier a cancer is detected, the better the chances of treating it. Because diagnostic imaging produces pictures of what’s going on inside the body, it’s a vital tool that can not only detect certain cancers like breast or lung cancer, it can be utilized as the...

Pharmacy

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders offers an onsite medically integrated pharmacy. Our certified pharmacist is here to answer any questions and provide easy access to the medication you need.  The pharmacy is open during business hours and provides a quick...

Contact Us

Ask a question or book an appointment below.

For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest hospital.

Please be aware that our phone options have changed, listen carefully when calling in for the new options.