On February 4, World Cancer Day, Prof. Dr. Samuray Tuncer from Dunyagöz Etiler Hospital drew attention to the importance of raising public awareness about the types of eye cancer and the consequences of their effects on the eyes. He also states that regular eye and fundus examinations play an important role in early diagnosis.
Early diagnosis is possible with regular eye examinations
Our eyes, which are windows to the world, contain keys to various types of cancer. Emphasizing the importance of raising public awareness on this issue, on February 4, World Cancer Day, Prof. Dr. Samurai Tunсer said that the lesions observed at the bottom of the eye may be part of systematic types of cancer, as well as cancer that can occur in the eye. Noting that regular eye examinations can easily diagnose cancers such as lymph, breast, skin, prostate and lung cancers, as well as melanoma tumors of the eye, Prof. Dr. Samuray Tuncer says that these examinations have saved the lives of many patients. Particularly in childhood and infancy, early diagnosis and treatment of intraocular cancers such as retinoblastoma through routine examinations are of great importance in terms of disease control and vision protection.
Attention to symptoms can save a life
Prof. Dr. Samuray Tuncer states that the most common type of intraocular cancer in adults is choroidal melanoma, and said: “Choroidal melanoma presents with symptoms such as reduced vision and blurred vision, changes in the appearance of the eye, flashes of light, black shadows, and distortion of vision. In addition to these symptoms, dark spots that appear in the iris of the eye and gradually increase, eye irritation, redness, and narrowing of the angle of vision can also be a sign of eye cancer. Taking these symptoms into account and performing rapid fundus examinations can be a life-or-death difference for some patients, as well as aid in the diagnosis of many different types of cancer. However, in some cases, patients do not experience any of the above symptoms, despite the formation of melanoma in the eye. At this point, the diagnosis of the disease becomes impossible for a person who does not undergo routine eye examinations”.
Choosing the right treatment is very important
Claiming that the age of the patient, the position of the eye cancer, the general health, and the spread of the cancer are taken into account when choosing the right treatment method, Prof. Dr. Samuray Tuncer said: “Many different methods of treatment can be used in the treatment of eye cancer, such as surgery, laser therapy, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, and chemotherapy. To eliminate the disease and maintain the general health of the patient, the choice of the correct method of treatment is of great importance. At this stage, the knowledge and experience of the doctor examining the eyes and the area around the eyes will be decisive. In particular, for early diagnosed and small-scale eye cancer, the intervention can be performed without any loss of the shape and function of the eye. For this reason, as a doctor, I recommend that people who notice any symptoms that cause discomfort in the eyes immediately go for an examination and take the necessary precautions”.
Possible symptoms of eye cancer
- Blurred vision
- Sudden loss of vision
- Moving dots or lines, flashes of light appearing in the field of view
- Decreased field of view
- Dark dot or spot on the colored part of the eye
- Changing in the shape or size of the pupil
- The eye protrudes or moves out of its natural position in the socket
- Eye redness or sensitivity to light
