Retinal melanoma treatment: what to know

Retinal melanoma is a melanoma arising in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Assessment may include detailed eye imaging, examination of the tumour, and checks for spread beyond the eye. The team considers whether the tumour can be treated while preserving useful vision and the eye itself.

Possible approaches include focused treatment to the tumour, surgery in selected situations, or treatment aimed at melanoma cells elsewhere in the body. A sentinel lymph node biopsy may be discussed for some melanomas, while immunotherapy is generally considered when disease has spread or needs whole-body treatment.

Keep appointments with the ophthalmologist and oncology team, bring a list of medicines and previous scans, and ask which findings are confirmed versus still being investigated. Follow instructions after any eye procedure, protect the treated eye as advised, and report new visual changes rather than waiting for the next routine visit.

Seek urgent medical advice for sudden or worsening loss of vision, severe eye pain, marked redness, new flashes or a curtain-like shadow, or symptoms that suggest spread such as persistent severe headache, weakness, confusion, or seizures. After treatment, urgent review is also appropriate for fever, heavy bleeding, or rapidly increasing swelling.

Ask where the tumour is located, what its measurements and imaging show, whether there is evidence of spread, which treatment goal applies, how vision may be affected, and how follow-up will monitor the eye and the rest of the body.