Use our new friend, Spot, to help children check their skin for new or unusual spot or lesions. This tool will help young people become aware of their skin and aware of melanoma.
Ocular Melanoma Fact Sheet
KNOW THE FACTS:
Approximately 2,000 people living in the United States 1 are diagnosed with OM each year.
Ocular melanoma (OM), or melanoma of the eye, is the most common form of eye cancer in adults.
Melanoma is a cancer that begins in the melanocytes (pigment cells) in the body. Unlike cutaneous (skin) melanoma, ocular melanoma is not thought to be related to UV exposure.
Learn more about the second most common melanoma diagnosis.
Risk factors for OM include light skin, light hair, and light eyes. There is a slight male prevalence.
OM makes up about 5% of all melanoma cases and is most commonly diagnosed around 55 years of age.
1 Weinberger, Y.; Bena, J.; & Singh, A.D. Uveal Melanoma: 5-Year Update on Incidence, Treatment, and Survival (SEER 1975–2020). Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2025 Apr; 11(1):30-36. doi: 10.1159/000543151.
Epub 2024 Dec 19. PMID: 40225965; PMCID: PMC11991740. Available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40225965/ .
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Melanoma of the eye includes two main types:
2
Conjunctival Melanoma The conjunctiva is the
1
clear covering of the white part of the eye and inside of the eyelids.
Choroid
Uveal Melanoma Uveal melanoma can form in any of these three layers:
Iris
Ciliary body
Symptoms of OM can include bulging eyes, change in color, poor vision, or red/painful eyes, but some people have no noticeable symptoms. • Most OMs are diagnosed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist
• Small and medium-sized tumors can be treated with radiation. Radiation could include proton beam or brachytherapy. • For a larger tumor, removal of the eye (enucleation) is often recommended. • Melanomas that start in the eye are often more resistant to treatment than melanomas that start on the skin once they have spread. • Although individual risk varies, OM generally spreads beyond the eye in about half of all cases, most commonly to the liver. • Currently, there is no known cure for metastatic OM, but there are two treatments which have recently been approved by the FDA, tebentafusp and melphalan directed at the liver.
during a dilated eye exam. • The American Academy of
Ophthalmology recommends an eye disease screening for adults beginning at age 40, at any time with the onset of new symptoms, or at the recommendation of a physician. • Before the primary tumor is treated, it may be possible to have a biopsy to determine your individual risk of developing metastatic disease. • Patients may get their HLA typing through a blood test to better understand their tumor’s behavior and receive more personalized treatment. It can also help identify the best therapies for their specific condition.
The VISION Registry is a patient-powered OM platform that unites patients, caregivers, researchers, and physicians across the globe to share knowledge and experience, accelerate progress, and advance towards a cure. Please help the MRF to advance research by joining the registry at melanoma.org/visionregistry.
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LAST UPDATED 1/2025 BY EXPERTS AND PATIENTS
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