Eye cancer is a common concept that includes a wide range of tumors of a different nature, developing in various areas of the eye. By the way, this disease is rare today, which, of course, is very pleasing.
In this article, we will look at symptoms that indicate a disease such as eye cancer. Signs of this disease do not appear in the early stages, however, for some changes, it can be diagnosed on time.
Species of oncology of the eye
Neoplasms are distinguished by the place in which they were formed. The following areas are distinguished:
- Conjunctiva. It is a thin and naturally transparent shell that covers the entire eye from the outside and the back surface of the eyelids.
- The retina is the inner shell of the eye containing photoreceptor cells, it is responsible for the perception of the image and its conversion into nerve impulses. Retinal cancer invariably leads to loss of vision.
- Vascular membrane. The middle shell of the eye is responsible for nutrition, adaptation of the retina.
- The orbit is the bone container for the eyeball.
- Various appendages of the eye, such as lacrimal glands, eyelids.
Causes of eye oncology
Naturally, causelessly, eye cancer does not appear, and if there is a reason, then this disease can be prevented.
- The first reason is excessive nervous experiences, unwillingness to live, tense situation in the family, depression. Yes, yes, you heard right. All this leads to the development of oncology or other diseases. It is not in vain that they say that all human diseases are out of the head.
- The second reason is heredity, you won’t get anywhere from this, but the tendency to cancer due to the fact that you had cancer patients in your family is not high.
- Eye cancer can appear, like many diseases, due to poor ecology. The presence in your region of various factories, enterprises, due to which a large amount of harmful industrial waste appears in air and water, as well as gas pollution, will certainly affect health.
- The next reason is the strong influence of ultraviolet radiation.
- The fifth cause of cancer is HIV.
- Exposure to chemicals, such as salts of a heavy metal.
Common symptoms
Depending on the location and type of cell structure, doctors distinguish many types of the general concept of "eye cancer." The symptoms of each of them are special. However, if we compare all the tumors, we can identify a number of common, similar signs.
It is almost impossible to diagnose eye cancer at an early stage, but as soon as the tumor grows, the symptoms will make themselves felt. Among them:
- Deterioration or loss of vision. Of course, vision loss may indicate other diseases, such as myopia, astigmatism, and so on, but if you have a tendency to cancer (the reasons were described above), be sure to consult an ophthalmologist, and preferably not one, because not everyone an ophthalmologist will be able to diagnose such a disease.
- Light flashes or spots before the eyes. A similar phenomenon occurs in all people, but on a smaller scale than in patients with eye cancer.
- An increasing dark spot on the iris. In no case do not let things go by chance, consult a doctor.
- Various pains in the eye. Although they are rare in eye oncology, it still happens.
- Bulging eyes.
- Any displacement of the eyeball within or outside the orbit.
- Strabismus.
- Eye cancer in children can be accompanied by strabismus, which is a symptom of retinoblastoma, we will talk about it later.
Nevus (moles) on the eye
Quite often you can find the so-called moles on the eye. They can be in a person from birth, can appear during life either during or after pregnancy. However, active growth of the nevus, an increase in size and darkening, and in a rare case, even the spread to the cornea of the eye, is noted in children and adolescents.
Sometimes such moles can be flat, but sometimes they bulge out of the eye. It is worth saying that most nevi remain unchanged and do not cause any discomfort to its carrier. But what is so dangerous about these moles? Like any mole on the human body, nevus can turn into a malignant tumor, in our case it can develop eye cancer. Symptoms at an early stage practically do not appear, malignant melanoma is diagnosed completely by accident or already at the last stage. But sometimes it is possible to detect in the early stages the transformation of a mole into eye cancer. Signs that, it must be said, are quite rare, will be described below:
- Deterioration of the field of vision, vision itself becomes less acute.
- The eyeball may protrude forward.
- The mobility of the eyeball is lost.
Symptoms of a malignant tumor of the eyelid
The forming thickening on the upper or lower eyelid, as well as papillomatous growths of a dirty pink color on the conjunctiva (a thin membrane covering the eye) are possible only with malignant tumors of the eyelid.
If you do not start treatment on time, it will lead to a late stage, during which the eyelid is destroyed by an ulcer, which is very painful. In extremely rare cases, even eye displacement beyond or within the orbit may occur.
Tumors of the eyelid in the general statistics are in first place among all diseases related to the type of "eye cancer". The photo below shows the initial stage of development of oncology of the century, this is exactly what the tumor looks like.
By the way, the majority of cases occur between the ages of 50 and 75 years, and about 70% of all tumors occur in the fair sex.
Conjunctival Cancer Symptoms
Eye cancer is rare in children of this form, and eyelid tumors are also rare in babies. But even in adults, this disease is considered quite rare.
There are two different forms of conjunctival cancer: papillomatous and pterygoid. With the papillomatous form, various pink outgrowths are formed on the conjunctiva, which can go to the cornea of the eye. If the tumor has a pterygoid shape, then it takes the form of a white, dense film without exact boundaries, with this form the eye vessels also burst.
The larger the neoplasm becomes, the stronger the conjunctiva thickens, the cartilage bends, and the tumor itself spreads to the orbits. In addition, conjunctival cancer has the ability to metastasize to the parotid and cervical lymph nodes.
Conjunctival cancer cases mostly occur in people over the age of 50. Statistics also show that people with fair skin, hair and eyes are 5 times more likely to get this type of eye tumor. For example, among 200 African Americans, there was only one with eye cancer. A photo with the image of the disease displays a film, a neoplasm next to the pupil and broken vessels.
Symptoms of lacrimal cancer
In rare cases, oncology of the lacrimal gland may occur. The causes of lacrimal gland cancer are identical to all the causes described above. By the way, poor-quality cosmetics can also cause eye cancer. Symptoms appear lightning fast during the first two months, as the disease develops very quickly. There will be severe swelling of the eyelids. Of course, swelling of the eye can develop for other reasons, but if it does appear, then be sure to run to the doctor and do not hope that it goes away by itself.
One of the symptoms may also be lacrimation. Myopic astigmatism can also be a signal that a person develops eye cancer. Symptoms (photo on the right) may not seem scary at first, but an urgent visit to the doctor is necessary.
The next symptom is a slight, and then severe discomfort in the area of the orbits themselves. In the later stages, the eyeball may sink, deform, shift, and its mobility may also disappear.
Symptoms of Cancer
Such tumors can be located in the iris, as well as in the choroid (the choroid itself). Symptoms are quite bright, so it’s quite easy to diagnose choroid cancer in the first stage.
First, vision decreases, dark spots appear on the iris, it is difficult not to notice them! Also, the pupil can change its shape. The tumor remains within the choroid.
Then complications begin to develop. The process of exfoliation of the retina begins, severe pain appears, pressure inside the eye rises.
At the next stage, the pain stops, the tumor no longer remains within the shell, but goes beyond the border of the apple. As a result, the eyeball becomes less mobile, and then completely stops moving.
At the last stage, bones, liver and lungs are overgrown with metastases. It should be said that sometimes this disease occurs without a single symptom, except for a gradual decrease in vision.
Symptoms of retinoblastoma
Retinal cancer - retinoblastoma - is a congenital malignant tumor that occupies a leading position in the frequency of occurrence in children. It can occur either due to heredity (in 50% of cases), or by accident for other reasons. Therefore, if a child in the family is ill with retinoblastoma, it is imperative to check all the next of kin (mom, dad, brother, sister) to identify the possible hidden development of the disease.
If you are sick with retinoblastoma, then it is likely that it will be transmitted to your child. Therefore, immediately after the birth of the baby, the baby should be examined by an optometrist, and then be observed up to 5 years, during this period eye cancer in children usually manifests itself, the symptoms come to light quite soon. Parents should take this issue with great responsibility.
Often, in the first two years of a baby's life, an experienced ophthalmologist can diagnose eye cancer. Symptoms (photo below) are pronounced.
The so-called leukocoria, which occurs in 60% of all cases of retinoblastoma, is visible on the eye. Therefore, if your child’s eyes look like in the photos presented, then take your child and run to the doctor.
Here are the remaining manifestations and consequences, if you do not start treatment in time:
- If your child has strabismus, then contact an ophthalmologist to exclude the possibility of cancer. In addition, strabismus is the second most common sign of eye oncology (20% of all cases).
- Inflammatory processes, photophobia, the appearance of pain.
- Metastases that occur in nearby lymph nodes and in the brain.
- With retinoblastoma, intracranial pressure may increase, but this is rare in the later stages.
- Tumor germination into the orbit itself also occurs in very advanced cases.
Conclusion
If you have such symptoms, then do not hesitate and go to the doctor. The phrase “I definitely will never have cancer” does not work here. It can happen to everyone, and if this has happened, then you need to immediately begin treatment.
And remember, often cancer arises due to the fault of the person himself: nervous experiences, stress in the family, depression, thoughts of suicide or death can easily cause serious illnesses.