Treatment For Eye Cancer
A team of healthcare professionals discuss your treatment options.
The most common treatments for eye cancers are:
surgery
radiotherapy
chemotherapy
immunotherapy
You may also have other treatments that your eye specialist will discuss with you.
A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. They are the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Your MDT might include:
An ophthalmologist (pronounced op-thal-mol-o-gist) is a specialist eye doctor or surgeon. They treat conditions of the eye.
An oncologist is a doctor who specialises in treating cancer. This is most often with radiotherapy (clinical oncologist) or drug treatments such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy (medical oncologist).
An ocular oncologist is a doctor who specialises in treating cancers of the eye.
An ophthalmology clinical nurse specialist is a qualified nurse who has specialist knowledge of cancers of the eye. They organise your care between the eye specialists and other health professionals. A specialist nurse will also help to support you through your treatment. They will make sure you have the information you need.
An ocular prosthetist or oculist is a trained eye specialist who designs, makes and fits artificial eyes.
An expert who examines any cancer or tissue removed by a surgeon.
Other health professionals who may help and support you include:
a counsellor
an occupational therapist
a social worker
an MDT coordinator
a research nurse
Your treatment for eye cancer depends on:
the type of eye cancer you have and where it is in the eye
the size of your cancer and how far it has grown or spread (the stage)
your general health and level of fitness
Your local hospital may refer you to a dedicated eye cancer unit. This is also called an ocular oncology unit. The units have a specialist multidisciplinary team for eye cancers.
There are 4 specialist units in the UK, based in:
Liverpool
London
Sheffield
Glasgow
If you are concerned that your treatment is not under a multidisciplinary team, do ask about it. It may be that you have only seen one specialist, but the team has still got together. They may have already discussed your test results and case notes to decide the best treatment options for you.
If you are having check ups, you may be under a system of shared care. This is when you have appointments at the specialist centre and also with the ophthalmologist at your local hospital.
Your doctor might ask if you’d like to take part in a clinical trial. Doctors and researchers do trials to make existing treatments better and develop new treatments.
Last reviewed: 03 Jan 2025
Next review due: 03 Jan 2028
Your treatment depends on several factors. These include what type of eye cancer you have, how big it is and whether it has spread (the stage). It also depends on your general health.
After treatment for eye cancer, you have regular check ups at the hospital.
There is support available for you and your family during and after treatment for eye cancer.
Eye cancer includes different types of cancer. The type of eye cancer you have depends on the type of cell it starts in. There are different parts of the eye, and some of these are more likely to get cancer than others.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
What to ask your doctor about clinical trials.
Meet and chat to other cancer people affected by cancer.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
Image by credit test.
