Eye Cancer

When you come to Cleveland Clinic for eye cancer diagnosis and treatment, you’ll work with a team of skilled providers who’ll design your personalized care plan. These could include:

• Ophthalmologists.
• Pathologists (tissue specialists).
• Oncologists.
• Genetic counselors.
• Advanced practice providers (certified nurse practitioners, physician assistants).
• Psychologists.
• Social workers.

Often, our providers can see some ocular tumors through your pupil during an eye exam. But to confirm a diagnosis, we may have you do more tests, including:

• Angiography.
• Ultrasound.
• Optical coherence tomography.
• Retinal scan (digital pictures of the back of your eye that show where light and images hit).
• Biopsy.

At Cleveland Clinic, we want you to feel comfortable seeking the best possible care. That’s why we encourage second opinions and offer priority scheduling for these kind of appointments. If you come to us for a second opinion, it’s important to bring all of your medical records so our providers can better understand your condition and help you get the best care.

When you have a rare cancer like eye cancer, you want a team of experts behind you. Our ocular oncology providers offer treatments for all kinds of eye cancer, including the rarest and most complex cases. They’ll walk you through the details of your treatment options and answer all of your questions.

Depending on your treatment plan, your options for ocular cancer may include one or more of the following:

• Surgery: Your surgeon will use the latest surgical methods to remove your tumor. This includes using minimally invasive options whenever available so we can save as much of your eye as possible.
• Chemotherapy: This anticancer medication destroys cancer cells, slows their growth and prevents them from spreading. You may receive targeted chemotherapy for eye tumors through eye drops or injections. You may also receive traditional intravenous (IV) cancer medications through a needle or tube that goes into a vein in your arm.
• Laser therapy: Various forms of lasers like photodynamic therapy (PDT) and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) are available to treat eye tumors.
• Radiation therapy: High-energy X-ray beams can destroy cancer cells or shrink tumors. Our radiation oncologists will carefully plan your radiation therapy (based on the type of cancer you have and the size of your tumor) to protect the healthy tissue that surrounds it. We also have treatment options to guard your retina during radiation therapy.

When it comes to rare eye tumors, treatment options are evolving — and because of limited data or studies, some of them are still considered experimental. But our providers have access to the latest information, research and treatments for these rare conditions. And we can often find options for you that aren’t yet available at other centers.

Taking the Next Step

While the thought of losing an eye to cancer can be more than a little scary, you won’t have to take the next steps after diagnosis alone. Cleveland Clinic’s ophthalmic oncology providers will be by your side, from diagnosis and beyond, with the best care and compassionate support. We’ll plan a treatment that meets your needs and goals, and we’ll always take the time to explain what’s happening and what you can expect — so that you can feel confident about your eye cancer treatment every step of the way.