Many eye diseases can cause blindness over time in the affected eye if not treated. As noted in an article by Drs. Prabhat K. Pokhel and Sanaza A. Loftus in a 2007 issue of" American Family Physician," some conditions also are considered ocular emergencies, including retinal detachment, penetrating injury to the globe and central retinal artery occlusion, where if immediate care is not given by an emergency room physician or an eye doctor, vision will be lost as well. However, some eye diseases that originate in the eye or orbital itself, including retinoblastoma, ocular melanoma and orbital cellulitis, can be deadly if not treated promptly.
Retinoblastoma
The deadly eye disease retinoblastoma is a cancer that develops from cells in the retina, according to the Mayo Clinic. This cancer occurs in children, and about 300 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with this eye cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. The goal of treatment is the destruction of the cancer while preserving as much vision in the eye as possible; often the eye will need to be removed to prevent the tumor from spreading. Because of early diagnosis and treatment, death from retinoblastoma in developed countries is rare; however, according to the website Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund, retinoblastoma causes the death of 7,000 children throughout the world each year.
Ocular Melanoma
The cancer melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin and involves the pigmented cells, which are located in the eye as well. The cells can form the deadly eye cancer ocular melanoma, which is the most common primary cancer of the eye. This cancer can form on the iris and in the rear of the eye. Ocular melanoma can spread throughout the body and cause death if not treated, according to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Ocular melanomas do not cause symptoms when they are small and can often be treated locally. Larger tumors may require enucleation or removal of the eye. All ocular melanomas should be staged to make sure that the tumor has not spread; if it has, systemic therapy will be needed.
Orbital Cellulitis
Orbital cellulitis is an infection that is localized to the eye socket, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. The causes of this infection include trauma to the eye, a sinus infection or infection in a tooth. With proper inpatient antibiotic management, most patients make a full recovery. However, some patients with orbital cellulitis develop brain abscesses, meningitis and increased pressure inside of the brain. These complications can result in a patient's death.
