Eye melanoma is a cancer affecting the eye that develops in the choroid or the iris. The primary risk factor for developing melanoma in the eye is exposure to sunlight and an increased risk exists for individuals with fair skin and blue eyes. For individuals with the melanoma confined to the eye, the five-year survival rate is around 80 percent, while the survival rate drops to around 15 percent if the cancer metastasizes to additional areas of the body, according to the American Cancer Society. Recognizing the signs and symptoms associated with eye melanoma is important so treatment can begin before the cancer spreads.
Physical Changes
Melanoma of the eye may not cause any recognizable symptoms, or it can cause changes to the shape or coloring of the eye. Physical changes of the eye will occur in the eye affected by the cancer. Some individuals may experience a change in the color of the iris, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The entire iris color may change, or a dark spot, resembling a mole may begin to grow on the iris. The pupil in the center of the iris can change shape. The affected eye can begin to bulge from the eye socket.
Flashing Lights and Floaters
As the cancer advances, the retina may begin to detach from the eye. As the retina detaches, the individual may begin to see flashes of light in the visual field. The detached retina may also cause a person to see an increase in the amount or size of floaters. Floaters look like small pieces fuzz floating in the visual field, especially when looking at a white piece of paper, computer screen or blue sky. Some people may also experience a veil or curtain in the visual field when the retina begins to detach, according to the Merck Manuals. A detached retina is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to prevent a permanent loss of vision.
Vision Changes
Eye melanoma can cause visual changes for the affected eye. Visual changes tend to occur as the cancer progresses. An individual can experience blurry vision, decreased vision or a complete loss of vision. The decreased vision may only occur in a portion of the field of sight.
Pain
Pain may occur in the eye due to melanoma, but is not common, according to the American Cancer Society.
