Eye Cancer Symptoms

Eye cancer is a type of malignant tumor that occurs in the eyeball, eyelids, lacrimal glands, and associated structures. It can affect people of all ages, but it is most common among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Eye cancer may lead to impaired vision, severely affecting patients’ quality of life.

Globally, eye cancer is more frequently reported in Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. In Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, incidence has also been rising in recent years. If not treated promptly, the disease may threaten vision and even life.

Stages of Eye Cancer

Stage I: Localized tumor
The tumor is confined within the eye and has not invaded adjacent tissues. Treatment outcomes are favorable, with a 5-year survival rate of about 85%-90%.

Stage II: Local spread
The tumor begins to invade periocular soft tissues, and symptoms worsen. The 5-year survival rate is about 65%-75%.

Stage III: Regional lymph node involvement
The tumor spreads to nearby lymph nodes, showing significant disease progression. The 5-year survival rate is about 40%-50%.

Stage IV: Distant metastasis
Distant organ metastasis occurs, making treatment highly challenging. The 5-year survival rate is below 20%.

Detailed Symptoms of Eye Cancer

1. Blurred vision
In the early stages, patients often experience reduced or blurred vision, especially near vision, affecting daily reading and recognition tasks.

2. Eye pain
Tumor spread compresses the eyeball and surrounding tissues, causing persistent or intermittent eye pain.

3. Proptosis
Tumor growth leads to protrusion or deformation of the eyeball, with noticeable external changes affecting eyelid closure.

4. Eye redness and swelling
Local inflammatory responses cause eye redness, conjunctival congestion, and a burning sensation with discomfort.

5. Double vision or diplopia
Involvement of extraocular muscles affects eye movement, leading to double vision, blurred vision, and unclear sight.

6. Abnormal tearing
Tear secretion may increase or decrease, presenting as excessive tearing or dryness, reducing ocular comfort.

7. Visual field defects
Tumor involvement of the optic nerve causes partial vision loss, reducing the visual field.

8. Eyelid mass
Some patients develop nodules or lumps in the eyelid, which are hard in texture and may grow slowly or rapidly.

9. Headache with orbital discomfort
When the tumor spreads to the orbital region, it can cause headaches and deep orbital pain, often accompanied by fatigue or malaise.

Conclusion

Experts at United Life International Medical Center emphasize that early symptoms of eye cancer are diverse and easily overlooked. Timely examination and diagnosis are critical. Combining advanced immune reconstruction cell therapy with comprehensive treatment strategies offers the potential to improve treatment outcomes, extend survival, and enhance quality of life. High-risk individuals are advised to undergo regular ophthalmologic examinations for early detection and intervention.