What is ocular melanoma? Ocular melanoma, or melanoma of the eye, is the most common primary eye cancer in adults and the second most common type of melanoma, with around 2,000 new cases each year in the United States and more than 5,000 new cases globally, with thousands more living with the disease. Ocular melanoma is comprised of two types: conjunctival melanoma and the more common uveal melanoma. Uveal melanoma can occur in any of the three layers of the uvea: the choroid, the ciliary body or the iris. Like other melanomas, OM begins in melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin. Ocular melanoma is a particularly dangerous form of melanoma and accounts for approximately 5% of all melanoma cases. The disease will spread from the eye to other organs in approximately half of people with ocular melanoma. Currently no known cure for metastatic ocular melanoma exists. However, encouraging advances in research offers new hope to OM patients. TYPES OF UVEAL MELANOMA Choroidal melanoma begins in the layer of blood vessels — the choroid — beneath the retina. It is the most common type of uveal melanoma. Iris melanoma occurs in the front, colored part of the eye. Iris melanomas usually grow slowly and do not typically metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body outside the eye. Ciliary melanoma occurs in the back part of the eye — in the ciliary body. Melanomas in the ciliary body tend to grow and metastasize to the liver more quickly than iris melanomas.
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