www.EyeMelanoma.comWhat is uveal melanoma?
Our skin has pigment cells, called melanocytes. Pigment cells in your skin can develop into a mole, or "nevus." That mole or nevus can grow and become a malignant melanoma.
Like your skin, the eye has a tremendous amount of pigment cells, or melanocytes. Pigment cells in the eye can also develop into a mole, or nevus. Likewise, malignant melanoma can originate inside the eye, within the "uvea" or choroidal layer of the eye. The melanoma originates from pigmented cells in the eye.
Melanoma inside the eye may decrease vision or cause a shadow in vision and thus come to attention. Alternatively, melanoma inside the eye may have no symptoms and be discovered on a regular routine eye exam.