Many cancers of the eye have no known cause but the incidence of some eye cancers has been associated with environmental, life style or hereditary factors.

Children with a genetic abnormality on the 13th chromosome are at increased risk of developing retinoblastoma. While more than 90% of retinoblastomas occur in children without any family history of the disease, existence of this genetic mutation in a family warrants closer screening scrutiny of all siblings. (See Screening)

Middle-aged and older fair-skinned, blue-eyed men who work outside and live near the equator are at highest risk of developing eye cancers caused by exposure to ultraviolet-B rays of the sun such as squamous conjunctival neoplasia and conjunctival melanoma.

In the case of sun exposure, wearing protective clothing and UVB blocking sunglasses may offer preventive benefits.

People with a condition called Nevus of Ota – increased pigmentation in and around the eyes – are at increased risk of melanoma of the eye and should be closely monitored.

Written by Rachael Myers Lowe, cancerpage.com
Reviewed by Jane Quigley, RN, BSN
Date Modified: 1/16/2009

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