The NHS says eye cancer does not always cause obvious symptoms and may only be picked up during a routine eye test. Symptoms of eye cancer can include shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision or blurred vision. Other people notice a dark patch in their eye that’s getting bigger or partial or total loss of vision.
The NHS says other signs include the bulging of one eye, a lump on your eyelid or in your eye that’s increasing in size or pain in or around your eye, although this is rare.
The health body notes: “These symptoms can also be caused by more minor eye conditions, so they’re not necessarily a sign of cancer. But it’s important to get the symptoms checked by a doctor as soon as possible.”
Cancer that starts in the eye is called primary eye cancer, but sometimes cancer can spread to the eye from another part of the body. This is called secondary eye cancer.
Cancer Research notes: “In women this is most likely to happen with breast cancer, and in men this is most likely to happen in lung cancer.”
The NHS adds: “The risk of developing eye melanoma also increases with age, with most cases being diagnosed in people in their 50s.”
Macmillan says after treatment for eye melanoma you will see your ophthalmologist and specialist nurse again for a follow-up appointment.
It states: “You will probably have regular checks for a few years. Your doctor or specialist nurse will explain how often you will see them.
“Your doctor or specialist nurse will check your eye and the surrounding area. You may have scans or x-rays to check both the eye and other parts of the body. If you have any problems or notice any new symptoms between these appointments, tell your doctor. You do not need to wait until your next appointment.”