Ocular Oncology

Expert Care for Tumours and Cancers of the Eye

A diagnosis involving a tumour or cancer of the eye is frightening and deeply unsettling. The stakes are high — for vision, for the eye itself, and in some cases for life. At RGC Eye Hospital, our ocular oncology service provides specialist assessment and management of tumours and cancerous conditions affecting the eye and its surrounding structures, combining clinical expertise with genuine compassion for patients and families facing one of the most challenging diagnoses imaginable.

What Is Ocular Oncology?

Ocular oncology is the subspecialty of ophthalmology concerned with the diagnosis and management of tumours — both benign and malignant — that arise within or around the eye. These include tumours of the retina, the choroid, the iris, the conjunctiva, the eyelids, and the orbit. Some are primary tumours that originate in the eye itself, while others are metastatic deposits that have spread from cancers elsewhere in the body. Accurate diagnosis, careful staging, and well-planned treatment are essential to achieving the best possible outcome.

Conditions We Diagnose and Manage

• Choroidal melanoma — the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults
• Retinoblastoma — a malignant tumour of the retina occurring in young children
• Choroidal naevi — pigmented lesions that require monitoring for malignant transformation
• Conjunctival tumours — including squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma of the conjunctiva
• Eyelid tumours — including basal cell carcinoma and sebaceous gland carcinoma
• Orbital tumours — including lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and metastatic deposits
• Iris tumours and cysts requiring assessment and monitoring

Our Approach to Ocular Oncology

Accurate Diagnosis

Diagnosis begins with a thorough clinical examination combined with specialised imaging including B-scan ultrasonography, fundus photography, OCT, and fluorescein angiography. In some cases, systemic investigations or biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether the tumour is primary or metastatic.

Treatment Planning

Treatment depends entirely on the type, size, and location of the tumour, and on the overall health and wishes of the patient. Options include observation with careful monitoring for small lesions, laser treatment, cryotherapy, surgical excision, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or in some cases removal of the eye when preservation is not possible or appropriate.

Multidisciplinary Care

Ocular tumours — particularly malignant ones — require input from multiple specialists. We work closely with oncologists, radiation therapists, pathologists, and other relevant specialists to ensure every patient receives care that addresses all aspects of their condition in a coordinated and well-planned way.

Why Patients Trust RGC Eye Hospital

• Specialist ocular oncology assessment and management by experienced ophthalmologists
• Advanced diagnostic imaging for accurate tumour characterisation
• Multidisciplinary approach ensuring all aspects of the condition are addressed
• Compassionate, sensitive care for patients and families navigating a frightening diagnosis