The most common type of cancer to affect the eye is ocular melanoma, or melanoma of the eye.

Melanoma is cancer that develops from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. Most melanomas begin to grow in the skin, but it is possible for melanomas to begin in other parts of the body such as the eye.

Ocular melanoma is rare: approximately 40 new cases are diagnosed in Ireland each year. The incidence of ocular melanoma increases with age and most cases are diagnosed in people in their 50s.

Symptoms include blurred vision, flashing lights, shadows and cataracts (misting of the lens in your eye).

Outlook

The outlook for ocular melanoma depends on how advanced it is when you are diagnosed and which parts of the eye are involved. Of people diagnosed with early-stage melanoma, when the cancer is still small, about 84% will live for at least five years after diagnosis.