Intraocular Metastasis

Intraocular Metastasis arises from cancers of the breast, lung and other organs, reaching the eye through the blood circulation. These tumors can affect one or both eyes at the same time and often grow quickly, causing loss of vision.

Most metastases have a distinctive appearance, but some may require biopsy with a fine needle or a vitreous cutter to confirm the diagnosis. Many patients report concurrent or previous cancer, especially those with a primary breast tumor. Some patients are not aware of their extra-ocular malignancy, especially those with metastases from lung. In these patients, the primary tumor may be located only after extensive tests, such as scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis.

Treatment is selected according to the type of cancer as well as the extent of the disease within the eye and in other parts of the body. If the patient is about to start systemic therapy, the doctor may wait and see how the ocular disease responds to such treatment before deciding on ocular radiotherapy and/or some form of laser treatment. Removal of the eye is rarely necessary unless the eye has become irreversibly inflamed painful. The life expectancy of patients with intraocular metastasis has improved considerably in recent years, thanks to the therapeutic advances that have taken place and which are still ongoing.