Basics of OM
"Uveal melanoma represents the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Although
uveal and cutaneous melanomas both arise from melanocytes, uveal melanoma is clinically and biologically distinct from its more common cutaneous counterpart. Metastasis occurs frequently in this disease, and once distant spread occurs, outcomes are poor. No effective systemic therapies are currently available; however, recent advances in our understanding of the biology of this rare and devastating disease, combined with the growing availability of targeted agents, which can be used to rationally exploit these findings, hold the promise for novel and effective therapies in the foreseeable future."
 -  Therapeutic implications of the emerging molecular biology of uveal melanoma (2011)
    Patel M, Smyth E, Chapman PB, Wolchok JD, Schwartz GK, Abramson DH, Carvajal RD



Anatomy of the Eye


Ocular melanoma (“OM” for short) is a cancer of the eye diagnosed in approximately 2,000 adults annually in the United States. This equates to about 5 - 6 cases per million people per year and, for people over 50 years old, the incidence rate increases to around 21 per million per year.


Where Does It Come From?

OM tumors arise from the pigment cells (melanocytes) that give color to the eye. Formation of these tumors is quite rare and, as for many other forms of cancer, the exact cause is unknown. It is known that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays (either from the sun or sunbeds) increases the risk of developing melanoma of the skin. People whose skin burns easily – people with fair skin, fair or red hair and blue eyes -- are most at risk, thus doctors recommend regular, yearly check-ins with an experienced ophthalmologist. However, there has been no conclusive evidence linking UV exposure and OM.


How Serious Is It?
