Tumors arising from the eyeball are termed intraocular if they are confined to the eyeball. Extraocular spread and a re-appearance (termed recurrence) after definite treatment is generally a harbinger of a poor response to therapy.

Ocular Melanoma:

Melanoma, a malignant tumor arising from pigment cells called melanocytes is often occurs in the uveal tract of the eye constituted by the iris, ciliary body and choroid.

Iris melanomas often present in Caucasians as a brown nodule over the iris that deforms the pupil. Left untreated, iris melanomas tend to perforate the eyeball. The Ciliary body and choroid are covered by the white sclera and visible only when the pupil is widely dilated. A diffuse (mushroom or collar button shaped) mass with dilated blood vessels, in a person between 40-50 years, would suggest a ciliary body or choroid melanomas.

Choroidal Melanoma is the most common of all uveal tract melanomas. A person between 40-50 years of age may suddenly develop a mushroom or collar button shaped mass in the choroid. This growth is a choroidal melanoma, the most common among all the uveal tract melanomas.

Retinoblastoma:

Sometimes, a child is taken to an eye specialist on account of a peculiar the yellow reflection from the eye. The childs eyes resemble those of a cat. This reflection is due to a malignant intraocular tumor called retinoblastoma, arises from immature retinal cells (or retinoblasts). Retinoblastomas spread to the extra-ocular tissues like the optic nerve and brain. It may also involve the bony socket called the orbit, where the eyeball is lodged.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma, a white blood cell tumor, is seen as a discrete tissue mass anywhere in the body, for example the eye, lymph glands and the gut. Intraocular lymphoma affects the inner layers of the eyeball (retina or choroid). Lymphomas are usually bilateral, affecting both the eyes. Like all other lymphomas, ocular lymphomas are managed by radiotherapy, which can literally melt the tumor.