Surgery for eye cancer (ocular melanoma)

If you need eye surgery for eye cancer, the type of operation will depend on things such as:

• the type of eye melanoma
• its size
• its position in your eye
• how it is affecting your sight
• your general health
• your preferences.

The thought of having any type of surgery to your eye can be worrying. Your specialist eye surgeon (ocular oncologist) and nurse will talk to you about the type of operation you need. They will explain what to expect. They will tell you whether the operation is likely to affect your eyesight (vision) or how you look. They will also give you advice on how to prepare for your operation. Find out more about preparing for surgery.

There are different operations for eye melanoma.

Removing the whole eyeball is called enucleation. Doctors will only suggest this if they are certain it is the best treatment for you. This may be if:

• the tumour is too large to be treated by radiotherapy
• radiotherapy to the area could have serious side effects
• the eye becomes painful after radiotherapy and your vision is also badly affected.

You will need time to discuss this operation with your cancer doctor and nurse before you make any decision.

Your doctor and nurse can usually arrange extra support to help you cope. This may include counsellors or patient support groups. They may be able to put you in touch with someone who has had the same operation.

During the operation, the surgeon removes the eyeball and puts an eye-shaped implant into your eye socket. They cover the implant with healthy surrounding tissue. The implant fills the space where your eyeball was. The surgeon attaches your eye muscles over the implant. They put in a plastic shell to keep the shape of the eyelid. This is called a conformer. The socket is then padded.

You may have this operation under general anaesthetic. Or you may have it under local anaesthetic. The drugs will make you feel drowsy and help relax you.

You usually go home 1 to 2 days after the operation. The nurses will explain how to look after your wound. The missing eye will be covered with a pad and dressing. This is kept in place for 3 to 5 days to reduce swelling in the eye socket. The eye socket is then left unpadded so it can heal.

Your eyelid may be swollen for a short period of time. Some people find it helpful to wear dark glasses until the swelling goes down.

Several weeks after the operation, you have an artificial eye made. This is called a prosthesis. A specialist who makes and fits artificial eyes is called an ocular prosthetist. They will match the shape, colour and size of your other eye as closely as possible. Your prosthesis should look natural and have some movement. You wear the prosthesis permanently. You only have to remove it occasionally to clean it.

Having one eye removed will affect your perception of depth and reduce your field of vision. These are things you can usually adapt to.

You can still drive afterwards, but not until a few weeks after surgery. This allows time for your vision to adapt. There may be restrictions on the types of vehicles you are allowed to drive. You must tell the DVLA or DVA in Northern Ireland after having one eye removed. You must meet their vison standard before starting to drive again.

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