The sign in your eyes that could be a symptom of deadly disease

14 February 2024 , 16:01

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850 people are diagnosed with eye cancer every year (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The number of people diagnosed with eye cancer is expected to rise in the UK over the coming years. According to Cancer Research, 850 people are diagnosed with the illness every year - which amounts to more than two people every day.

But this figure is predicted to increase to more than 2,000 new cases every year by 2038-2040.

Like most types of cancer, catching it early and receiving a diagnosis as soon as possible is the key to effective treatment and increased survival rate - which currently stands at 60%.

But Brits should be mindful of the fact that eye cancer symptoms can easily be overlooked or be mistaken for less serious health issues - one of those being blurred vision.

Blurred vision can be caused by many eye conditions, including near-sightedness or far-sightedness. But it can also be a warning sign of cancer.

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While there are different types of cancer that affecting the eye, the most common is eye melanoma. Melanoma is a cancer that develops from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. Eye melanoma most commonly affects the eyeball, but can sometimes affect the conjunctiva (the thin layer that covers the front of the eye) or the eyelid.

There are different types of cancer that can affect the eye, the most common being eye melanoma (Getty Images)

If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs.

The NHS says that eye cancer will not always present itself with symptoms, and is often picked up during routine eye tests. But those who have it may also notice symptoms, including shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision, blurred vision and a dark patch in your eye that's getting bigger.

It's crucial to remember that these symptoms don't always mean you have eye cancer. Issues like blurry vision or irritated eyes can be due to less serious problems, like conjunctivitis, which can be sorted with antibiotics.

The causes of eye cancer are not entirely clear, but some factors may increase the risk of it happening, including if you have a lighter eye colour, white or pale skin and unusual moles.

If you are worried about eye cancer, you should get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible, as early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment.

Treatments like brachytherapy might be used, where small plates covered in radioactive stuff are put near the tumour and left for up to a week to kill the cancer cells. Other treatments could include external radiotherapy and surgery.

Zahra Khaliq