I’ve been opening up about my Ocular Melanoma cancer experience (see here and here), and wanted to finish this series by talking about some basic facts about the disease and helping you know the warning signs.

Ocular Melanoma Facts

Here’s a snippet from the OMF website:

Ocular melanoma is the most common primary cancer of the eye in adults. It is diagnosed in about 2,500 adults every year in the United States and occurs most often in lightly pigmented individuals with a median age of 55 years. However, it can occur in all races and at any age.

Called “OM” for short, ocular melanoma is a malignant tumor that can grow and spread to other parts of the body – this process, known as metastasis, is often fatal and occurs in about half of all cases. Although produced from the same cells in the body, called melanocytes, OM is different from skin (or cutaneous) melanoma and is not related to sun exposure. Ocular Melanoma is the second most common type of melanoma after cutaneous and represents about 5% of all melanomas.

http://www.ocularmelanoma.org/disease.htm

Symptoms

• Flashes or Floaters (seeing white specks or black dots floating in vision)
• Loss of Peripheral Vision
• Blurred vision or Headaches

Eye Cancer Prevention

• Yearly routine visits to an ophthalmologist that will dilate your eye
• Eye protection! There are no studies that show what causes OM, but protecting your eyes in the sun is always helpful.

Ocular Melanoma Carmel Fundraiser

You may have seen it on my social media, but I am hosting a fundraiser on May 26, 2019, for OM awareness. One purchase will get you one class with Cycle Bar Carmel Rancho, an eye patch, a chance at a raffle item, and more! All net proceeds will also go directly to the OMF foundation.

Interested? Sign up here!