Eye cancer cases are predicted to soar over the next 15 years. Currently, there are around 850 people in the UK diagnosed with eye cancer annually, which is more than two people every day, according to Cancer Research UK.
However, this figure is predicted to rise to more than 2,000 new cases every year by 2038-2040.
Similarly to other types of cancer, catching it early is key to effective treatment and increased survival rate. However, many symptoms of the disease can be mistaken for less serious health issues, making symptom awareness front and centre.
One of the red flag signs of eye cancer is blurred vision. While this problem could caused by many eye conditions, including near-sightedness or far-sightedness, it can also be a warning sign of the serious condition.
There are different types of cancer that can affect your eyes, with the most common one being eye melanoma. Worryingly, this can spread to other parts of the body, including your lungs, if left untreated.
The NHS recommends looking out for the following signs:
- Blurred vision
- A dark patch in your eye that’s increasing in size
- Shadows/ Flashes of light/ Wiggly lines in your vision
- Partial/ Total loss of vision
- A lump on the eyelid that’s getting bigger
- Bulging of one of the eyes
- Eye irritation that won’t go away
- Pain in or around the eye (this is a rare side-effect that won’t be witnessed by most people).
The health service explains that eye cancer won’t always show symptoms, but it can be picked up during routine eye tests.
Furthermore, these symptoms do not necessarily guarantee you have eye cancer. Problems like blurred vision or eye irritation can be caused by a variety of benign health problems.
However, it’s important to speak to your GP if you’re concerned about any new eye problems.