Getting diagnosed with eye cancer
It can be hard for GPs to decide who may have cancer and who might have a more minor condition. For some symptoms, your doctor may ask you to wait to see if the symptoms get better or respond to treatment, such as antibiotics.
There are no specific referral guidelines for the different types of eye cancer in the UK. But there are two different sets of guidelines that help doctors manage someone with eye cancer in the best possible way. The guidelines are:
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists Referral Pathways for Ocular Tumours
The Uveal Melanoma - full guideline
The guidelines say you should be referred in the same way as for any other suspected cancer if you have symptoms that might be due to eye cancer. This means seeing a specialist as soon as possible.
Depending on your symptoms and the results of an eye examination, your doctor or optometrist might refer you to a specialist. This is usually an ophthalmologist. If they think you might have eye cancer, they will refer you to a specialist eye cancer centre. You can ask when you are likely to get an appointment.
There are referral guidelines for GPs for a rare type of children’s eye cancer called retinoblastoma. These vary between the different UK nations. Your child’s GP will use these guidelines as well as their own experience and judgement.
Find out more about an urgent referral for a child with retinoblastoma
Your GP will consider any other symptoms you have, so do mention these.
Read about possible symptoms of eye cancer
Your GP might also take into account whether you have any risk factors that affect your chances of developing eye cancer.
Go to the risks and causes of eye cancer
Sometimes you might feel that your GP is not concerned enough about your symptoms. If you think they should be more concerned, print this page and the symptoms page. Ask your GP to explain why they don’t think you need a referral.
Contact your GP again if your symptoms don't get better or you notice any new or unusual symptoms.
If your GP has referred you to a specialist, ask them when you should get your appointment. Contact them again if you don’t get one. Or some hospitals have a referral service you could try contacting if you know which hospital you are going to. Explain that you are waiting for an urgent suspected cancer referral.
Go to more information about an urgent referral, what to expect and questions to ask
Your hospital is working towards waiting time targets. For example, a target to find out whether you have cancer or not. And there are targets to start treatment if you are diagnosed with cancer. These are slightly different depending on where you live in the UK.
Last reviewed: 22 Nov 2024
Next review due: 22 Nov 2027
You should see your doctor or optometrist if you notice a change that isn't normal for you. Or if you have any of the possible signs and symptoms of cancer.
Your GP or optometrist will ask you about your symptoms, and they might examine you. They may arrange tests or a referral to a specialist.
You usually have a number of tests to diagnose eye cancer. The tests you might have include an eye examination and a test to look at the blood vessels in your eye (fluorescein angiogram).
Your treatment depends on several factors. These include what type of eye cancer you have, how big it is and whether it has spread (the stage). It also depends on your general health.
Eye cancer includes different types of cancer. The type of eye cancer you have depends on the type of cell it starts in. There are different parts of the eye, and some of these are more likely to get cancer than others.
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