Plaque therapy for ocular melanoma

Ocular melanoma, also called uveal melanoma, develops from pigment cells in the eye. A specialist positions a small plaque on the outer wall of the eye, aligned with the tumour. Radiation travels a short distance into the tumour. The plaque is then removed, unlike a radioactive implant designed to remain in place.

This approach can target the tumour while reducing radiation to other parts of the body. It cannot prevent every effect on sight: the tumour’s location and the radiation dose influence whether the retina, optic nerve or lens are affected. Your specialist can explain the balance between tumour control and vision preservation for your eye.

Before treatment, imaging helps the team mark the tumour and plan the plaque. Share your full medicine list and ask which medicines to pause. Arrange an adult to take you home if anaesthesia or sedation is used. You may go home with an eye shield, drops and activity instructions.

Use drops exactly as directed, keep the eye clean and avoid pressing or rubbing it. Temporary redness, tenderness and blurred vision may occur. Keep every follow-up appointment so the team can assess healing, eye pressure, tumour appearance and vision.

Call your eye team promptly if pain, swelling, redness or discharge is getting worse rather than settling. Urgent assessment is needed for sudden vision loss, a dark curtain, new flashes with many floaters, severe pain with nausea, heavy bleeding or an accidental blow to the eye.

Ask how the plaque will be positioned, how long it will stay, whether your tumour is close to vision-critical structures, what restrictions apply after surgery, and which symptoms should trigger a same-day call.