intraocular

Cancer of the eye is uncommon. It can affect the outer parts of the eye, such as the eyelid, which are made up of muscles, skin and nerves. If the cancer starts inside the eyeball it's called intraocular cancer. The most common intraocular cancers in adults are melanoma and lymphoma. The most common eye cancer in children is retinoblastoma, which starts in the cells of the retina. Cancer can also spread to the eye from other parts of the body.

Treatment for eye cancer varies by the type and by how advanced it is. It may include surgery, radiation therapy, freezing or heat therapy, or laser therapy.

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye. This cloudiness blocks light from reaching the back of the eye, making it harder to see clearly. A cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it doesn't spread from one eye to the other.

Cataracts usually develop slowly. As they get worse, your vision can become blurry or dim. Brighter lighting or new eyeglasses may help at first, but if cataracts begin to interfere with your daily activities, you may need cataract surgery.

Without treatment, cataracts can cause severe or even permanent loss of vision.

Most cataracts develop as part of the normal aging process. This happens when the protein in the lens of your eye clumps together. Over time, these protein clumps grow larger and thicker, making it harder to see. The lens may turn yellow or brown, which can affect how you see colors.

Cataracts can also develop after an eye injury or surgery for another eye condition, like glaucoma.

Cataracts are very common in older adults. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Your risk for developing cataracts increases as you get older. You may also be at an increased risk if you:

• Have certain health problems, like diabetes
• Have a family history of cataracts
• Have had an eye injury or eye surgery
• Take steroid medicines, used to treat conditions like arthritis or allergies
• Smoke
• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• Have spent a lot of time in the sun

You may not notice cataracts at first because they usually develop slowly. That's why regular eye exams are important. Common symptoms may include:

• Blurry or cloudy vision
• Colors that seem faded
• Glare from headlights, lamps, or sunlight that seems too bright
• Halos around lights
• Not being able to see well at night
• Double vision (this may go away as the cataract gets bigger)
• Frequent changes in your glasses or contact lens prescription
• Trouble reading or doing other everyday activities

Talk with your provider about these symptoms since they could also be signs of other eye problems.

A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to check for cataracts. Your provider will do several tests to check your vision and eye health. This includes a dilated eye exam, where your pupils are widened with special eye drops. This allows more light to enter your eye so your provider can clearly see tissues at the back.

Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. At first, you may be able to improve your vision with new glasses and brighter lighting. But if cataracts are getting in the way of everyday activities like reading, driving, or watching TV, surgery is an option. During surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL).

If you're worried that you're at risk for cataracts, talk to your provider to see if there's anything you can do to lower your risk. A few ways to protect your eyes include:

• Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to block ultraviolet (UV) sunlight and help delay cataracts.
• Protect your eyes from injury when using power tools or playing certain sports.
• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains.

NIH: National Eye Institute

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or "ugly looking."

Thinking of "ABCDE" can help you remember what to watch for:

• Asymmetry - the shape of one half does not match the other
• Border - the edges are ragged, blurred or irregular
• Color - the color is uneven and may include shades of black, brown and tan
• Diameter - there is a change in size, usually an increase
• Evolving - the mole has changed over the past few weeks or months

Surgery is the first treatment of all stages of melanoma. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation, biologic, and targeted therapies. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

The cornea and lens of your eye bend (refract) light rays to focus them on the retina. Refractive errors happen when the shape of your eye prevents light from focusing correctly on the retina. This causes blurry vision. Changes in the eye's shape affect how light rays bend and focus, leading to vision problems.

Refractive errors can happen when:

• The eyeball is too long or too short.
• The cornea changes shape.
• The lens becomes less flexible as you age.

Each type of refractive error is different, but they all make it hard to see clearly.

Four common types of refractive errors include:

• Nearsightedness (myopia), blurred vision when looking at faraway objects.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia), blurred vision when looking at close-up objects.
• Astigmatism, blurred or distorted vision at all distances, which can make night vision harder.
• Presbyopia, difficulty seeing things up close because the lens becomes less flexible with age. It affects adults in middle age and older and often begins around age 45.

Anyone can have refractive errors. It's the most common type of vision problem. You may be more likely to have one if other family members wear glasses or contact lenses.

Most types of refractive errors start in childhood or are present at birth. Presbyopia is different. Nearly everyone develops it as they age, typically starting around age 45.

Sometimes you may not notice vision changes right away, which is why regular eye exams are so important.

The most common symptom is blurred vision. Other symptoms may include:

• Double vision
• Haziness
• Glare or halos around bright lights
• A need to squint to see clearly
• Headaches
• Eye strain or tired eyes
• Difficulty focusing when reading or using a computer

If you already wear glasses or contact lenses and notice these symptoms, you may need a new prescription. Tell your eye care specialist if your vision changes or if you have problems with your glasses or contact lenses

An eye care specialist can diagnose refractive errors during a comprehensive eye exam. You'll be tested to see how well you can see at different distances, both with and without corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses). Your provider may also use special eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupils to check for other eye conditions.

Different eye care specialists may be involved in your care. Here are some of the most common:

• Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who treat eye diseases, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, and perform eye surgery.
• Optometrists perform eye exams, diagnose vision problems, and prescribe glasses or contact lenses.
• Opticians fit or adjust glasses or contact lenses based on a prescription from your eye care specialist.

Refractive errors are usually easy to correct with:

• Glasses
• Contact lenses
• Laser eye surgery, in some cases

Your eye care specialist can help choose the best treatment for your vision and lifestyle.

NIH: National Eye Institute