Childhood Eye Cancer: Symptoms, Types & Diagnosis

Eye cancer occurs when cells grow abnormally and form a tumor on or in the eye. Children can develop eye cancer in any area of the eye at any point during their childhood.

Types

• Types of eye cancer include intraocular melanoma and lymphoma, retinoblastoma and conjunctival melanoma.

Effects

• Children who have eye cancer will have decreased vision, see spots or squiggles, and may have an eye that bulges.

Identification

• To identify if a child has eye cancer, a doctor called an ophthalmologist will examine the eye to see if the child's blood vessels are enlarged. If they are, the ophthalmologist will order imaging tests to determine if cancer is causing the enlarged blood vessels.

Treatments

• Treatments for eye cancer in children include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

Follow-Up

• After eye cancer has been treated, children will need to see an ophthalmologist every two to three months so the doctor can perform a physical exam to make sure the cancer has not returned.