Ocular / uveal melanoma

Ocular melanoma is a rare and aggressive form of melanoma that occurs in the eye. Around 200 Australians are diagnosed with this eye cancer each year. Many ocular melanoma cases are initially detected during a routine eye test at an optometrist or ophthalmologist. 

Uveal melanoma is a form of ocular melanoma found in the middle layer of the eye called the uvea.

Ocular and uveal melanoma are clinically and biologically different to skin melanoma.

A person with ocular melanoma may be asymptomatic or the cancer may be picked up incidentally during a routine eye exam. Symptoms may include:

• Visual changes – blurred vision, flashing lights, loss of peripheral vision, floaters and/or specks
• Redness of the eye
• Eye pain
• Brown or dark patches on the white of the eye
• Change in the colour of the iris
• Changes in the shape or size of the pupil