Ocular Oncology

Neoplasms of the eyes – what is it?

Unfortunately, the delicate and sensitive tissues of our eye are vulnerable to many carcinogenic factors: radiation, chemicals, some viruses, burns and injuries. There may also be hereditary causes of their rebirth.

Due to the many variations of eye neoplasms it is not always easy to diagnose the problem, which requires a comprehensive examination by a highly qualified ophthalmologist specializing in ophthalmic oncology.

Classification of tumors of the eye and surrounding tissues

The same classification is applied to neoplasms of the visual organs as to tumors in general. They are divided into:

• Benign — slow-growing, non-metastatic, non-toxic.
• With locally stimulating growth — those that do not metastasize, but have invasive growth (intermediate category).
• Malignant — fast-growing, destroying other tissues and releasing toxins. Their cells are transported with blood to other parts of the body and can give secondary foci (metastases).

Symptoms of the appearance of ocular neoplasms

Almost all tumors of the visual organs become noticeable sooner or later. They can manifest as growths, seals, pigmented areas on the skin of the eyelids, swelling, redness in the corner of the eye and around it. On the conjunctiva and cornea, they have the appearance of a cloudy haze or a round whitish-yellow spot. Tumors of the choroid are visible as spots on the iris. But the deeper tissues of the eye affected by neoplasms cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The sooner the pathological changes are detected, the greater the chance to completely secure the patient's eyesight. It is better to proceed to treatment at the stage when the tumor is still small. And, of course, regular comprehensive vision check is the best protection against such unpleasant surprises as eye neoplasms.

Diagnosis and treatment of eye tumors

Usually, a neoplasm of the eye can be detected by ophthalmoscopy (examination of the fundus). To confirm and clarify the diagnosis, the following stages of examination are carried out:

• Ultrasound of the eyeball
• Computer tomography
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Fluorescent angiography
• Tissue biopsy with subsequent histological analysis.

Modern methods of immunohistochemistry can accurately determine the nature of the tumor, and tomography — its localization.

Treatment of ocular neoplasms

Like many serious pathologies, tumors require a comprehensive approach to treatment. The choice of the necessary methods depends on the diagnosis, the stage of development of the neoplasm, and the individual characteristics of the patient. It is important to understand that removing a tumor may not always be enough for health safety afterwards. In some cases, regular prevention of its recurrence will be required.

Methods of tumor removal:

1. Laser evaporation
2. Radiosurgical removal using robotic systems
3. Cryotherapy (freezing of cancer cells with liquid nitrogen)
4. Thermotherapy (several sessions of tissue heating up to 45°C)
5. Brachytherapy (contact irradiation technique)
6. Photodynamic therapy (destruction of cancer cells due to exposure to light from a laser of a certain power)
7. Chemotherapy
8. Surgical removal

The need for surgery, as a rule, arises only in the late stages of the disease. Prior to this, treatment may be limited to absolutely safe and minimally invasive techniques (a technique aimed at minimizing the area of intervention in the body and the degree of tissue injury). Our highly professional and experienced ophthalmic oncology specialists at CRYSTAL VISION in Bahrain approach the treatment of ocular oncology on a strictly individual basis, choosing the most effective and minimally invasive way of treating the disease.