Choroidal Melanoma Treatment at Your Trusted Retina Specialist in Connecticut
Choroidal melanoma is rare, but it is the most common primary eye cancer in adults. Choroidal melanoma is a serious condition that requires immediate evaluation and expert management. Retina Consultants, P.C., in Connecticut, provides advanced diagnostics and coordinated treatment for ocular tumors, including choroidal melanoma. Led by Scott Walter, M.D., M.Sc., Connecticut’s top ocular oncology specialist, our practice delivers highly specialized care you can trust.
What is choroidal melanoma?
The wall of your eye has three main layers, namely the sclera (white, outer layer), the uvea, and the retina layer. Uvea (iris, choroid, and ciliary body) contains melanocytes that can turn into malignant melanoma because of abnormal growth. Some tumors grow slowly and remain small for years. Others may enlarge more quickly and require urgent treatment to prevent vision loss or spread to other body parts (metastasis).
What are the symptoms of choroidal melanoma?
In its early stages, choroidal melanoma may not cause noticeable symptoms. As it grows, patients may experience:
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Flashes of light
- Floaters
- A dark spot in peripheral or central vision
- Visual field loss
- Severe eye pain
- Retinal detachment in some cases
These symptoms don’t mean you have ocular cancer. The cause could be other non-cancerous but serious eye conditions. The important thing is to get a professional evaluation to preserve your eye health.
Can anyone get choroidal cancer?
Technically yes. While everyone can get choroidal melanoma, the following factors can increase the risk:
- Fair skin and light-colored eyes
- Excessive ultraviolet (UV) exposure
- Age (most common in middle-aged and older adults)
- Certain genetic predispositions
- Presence of atypical ocular or skin moles
Routine eye exams are especially important for individuals with these risk factors.
How is choroidal melanoma diagnosed?
A biopsy is rarely necessary to diagnose choroidal melanoma unless the tumor is atypical. At Retina Consultants, P.C., we use advanced imaging technology to examine suspicious lesions with precision.
- Dilated retinal examination to directly visualize the tumor
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to assess retinal detachment
- Ultrasound (B-scan) to measure tumor thickness and internal characteristics
- Fluorescein angiography to evaluate blood flow patterns
How do you treat choroidal melanoma?
Choroidal melanoma treatment depends on the tumor’s size, its location, and overall health.
- Observation: We may carefully monitor very small lesions with regular imaging. We start treatment when the tumor grows.
- Plaque brachytherapy (radiation therapy): This is one of the most common treatments. Your ocular oncologist places a small radioactive plaque directly over the tumor, delivering targeted radiation without damaging surrounding tissue.
- Enucleation: If the tumor is sizeable, your doctor may recommend removing the eye. While rare, this option can be life-saving. Once removed, doctors place a prosthetic eye to maintain aesthetics.
Once diagnosed with choroidal melanoma, you need constant monitoring for the rest of your life. Close surveillance prevents the disease from spreading to other parts of the body, particularly the liver.
Do you need choroidal melanoma treatment?
Choroidal cancer can be scary, but it’s important to know treatment is within reach. If you notice unexplained vision changes or have been diagnosed with a suspicious retinal lesion, you can trust Retina Consultants, P.C. for expert ocular care.
To get started, contact us at:
Hartford
Manchester
Cromwell
Farmington
Enfield
Ocular cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but it’s not the end of your vision. Our retinal care team is committed to protecting your vision and supporting your health every step of the way.
