The warning signs of eye cancer often only appear once tumours reach a size that causes changes to tissue or vision. GETTY
Eye cancer is an umbrella term that describes many different types of tumours that can form in different areas of the eye. It occurs when cells in the eye undergo a change that causes them to behave abnormally, multiply rapidly and accumulate into masses called tumours. If these tumours are malignant,, they can destroy nearby tissue and metastasize to other areas of the body.
The most common type of primary eye cancer is known as eye melanoma. This form of the disease begins in the melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin . Eye melanoma is difficult to detect because it presents few warning signs in its early stages and occurs in a part of the eye that can’t be seen by looking in a mirror.
Melanomas of the eye are rare and can be treated without any loss to vision if they are discovered early. If the melanoma is large or discovered late, however, some loss of vision may occur.The warning signs of eye cancer are difficult to detect early and often only appear once tumours reach a size that causes changes to tissue or vision.