Did you know that Ocular Melanoma (OM) is the
most common form of cancer that occurs in the eye? The facts and information may be surprising, but
every year, approximately 2,500 American adults are diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma
(OM), an aggressive malignant cancer that starts in the pigment cells that
produce eye color. Most often it tends to occur in people with light skin
pigmentation and with lighter blue or green eyes and who are over age 50. However, OM also can occur in individuals
of every race and at any age. OM is
a silent killer because for about 50 percent of individuals diagnosed with OM,
the cancer may is fatal as it quickly metastasizes and spreads to other parts
of the body. There are no early warning signs and in many cases Ocular Melanoma
is diagnosed during a routine eye exam-further supporting the need to have
regular scheduled eye exams. Once OM has
developed, some people may experience blurred vision, a change in the shape of
the pupil, flashing lights in their vision, loss of vision in the affected eye
or a dark spot on the iris.
Ocular
Melanoma Causes & Risks
Researchers have found that people with OM tend
to have certain gene mutations, which could suggest there is a strong genetic
component to the disease. However, they have not concluded that these
abnormalities are the cause or whether there is a clear mechanism of genetic
transmission. They believe there may be a connection between the development of
OM and prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial light, such as from tanning
beds, but there is not significant research confirming this link either.
If you or someone you know is concerned about
the risk of Ocular melanoma (OM) please be sure to schedule an eye exam
at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930,
visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or
http://www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.
Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham is a
leading eye care center located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite
501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine eye doctors Marc
Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D.
