Retina Associates is a Tucson, Arizona, ophthalmology practice guided by Dr. Cameron Javid that delivers comprehensive retina care, consistently rated best in its field. Among the conditions treated at Retina Associates is choroidal melanoma, a type of uveal melanoma or cancer of the eye.

In uveal melanoma, the tumors arise in ocular tissue within the uvea. The uvea is a densely pigmented layer comprising a portion of the eye’s wall and encompassing the ciliary body, iris, and choroid. Essentially a vascular tissue, it delivers nourishment such as oxygen to the retinal photoreceptors, which have high metabolic demands.

With 90 percent of melanoma cases starting on the skin, a small percentage involve the eye. Symptoms include an expanding dark spot on the iris and floaters, specks, or flashes in the vision. In addition, the shape of the pupil may change, causing blurry or poor vision and loss of peripheral vision.

Treatments might include systemic chemotherapy and enucleation or removing the eye from its orbit. For medium-sized uveal melanomas, professionals might opt for plaque brachytherapy. It helps spare the eye and involves placing a radioactive plaque directly over the cancer. The plaque is surgically attached with temporary stitches and kept in place for a week. With no tumor exactly alike, such radioactive plaques are customized to the patient’s specific tumor.