A biopsy is often not needed for eye melanoma because the doctor can tell it’s melanoma from the eye exam and imaging tests. This test is very good for looking at eye tumors and may be used to see if the cancer has spread.īiopsy: In a biopsy, the doctor takes out a small piece of tissue to check for cancer cells. MRI scan: This test uses radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to make detailed pictures. It can be used to see if the cancer has spread.Ĭhest x-rays: X-rays may be done to see if the cancer has spread to your lungs. This lets the doctor see the blood vessels inside the eye.ĬT or CAT scan: This test uses x-rays to make detailed pictures of the inside of your body. Pictures of the back of the eye are then taken using a special light that makes the dye glow. The echoes are made into a picture on a computer screen.Īngiography : For this test, dye is put into the blood through a vein in the arm. It gives off sound waves and picks up the echoes as they bounce off tissues. Ultrasound: For this test, a small wand is put against the eyelid or eyeball. If signs are pointing to eye cancer, tests will be done.

You may be sent to an eye doctor called an ophthalmologist for a more detailed eye exam. The doctor will ask you questions about your health and do an eye exam. Some signs of eye cancer are vision changes (things look blurry or you suddenly can’t see), floaters (seeing spots or squiggles), flashes of light, a growing dark spot on the iris, change in the size or shape of the pupil, and eye redness or swelling. How does the doctor know I have eye cancer?

Would you please write down the kind of eye cancer you think I might have?.

Your doctor can tell you more about the kind of eye cancer you have. Melanoma can also start in other places of the eye, like the conjunctiva, which is a thin clear covering over the white part of the eye.

Primary intraocular melanoma usually starts in the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea. 'Melanoma' means the cancer started in a kind of cell called a melanocyte. 'Intraocular' means the cancer started inside the eyeball instead of in the muscle, nerves, or skin around eye. 'Primary' means the cancer started in the eye instead of spreading there from somewhere else. There are many different kinds of eye cancers, but the most common type of eye cancer is primary intraocular melanoma.

Ask your doctor to use this picture to show you where the cancer is.

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