Articles:Ocular and orbital metastases

Metastasis to the orbit and eye may be unilateral or bilateral, and can compromise vision due to the structures at these critical sites. The most common primary from which such deposits arise is carcinoma of the breast.

Complications

Choroidal deposits may cause bleeding within the eye, or may damage the retina itself. Orbital (extraocular) deposits can cause anterior protrusion of the eye from the orbit (proptosis) and palsy of the ocular motor nerve, which may threaten the optic nerve itself.

Management

To avoid permanent palsy or loss of vision, assessment and management must be swift. A full (external) eye examination coupled with a thorough exmamination of the retina must be undertaken. Radiotherapy must be initiated urgently; a dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions can be given. Unless such a time has passed that permanent damage has already been done to the macula, then generally response to radiotherapy is satisfactory.