Iris melanoma
How is it diagnosed?
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| An iris melanoma distorting the pupil margin |
Iris naevi and melanomas are very small. They may be noted by the patient or friends but most are discovered during routine examination by an optometrist.
When a naevis or melanoma is discovered patients are referred to an ophthalmologist for futher examination.
Is it a melanoma?
Ophthalmologists examine the eye with a slit lamp microscope looking for the presence or absence of a number of features known to be more common in melanomas than naevi.
Changes that suggest a pigment spot is likely to be a melanoma include:
- Documented growth
- Larger size and greater thickness
- Variation in pigmentation
- Distortion of the iris or pupil margin
- Abnormal blood vessels
- Glaucoma
- Spread into surrounding parts of the eye