Melanoma is a word that most people will associate with skin cancer, but it is not limited to only your skin. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for our skin’s coloring, but they are also located in our hair, the lining of our inner organs and the eyes. While melanoma of the eye occurs in 1 out of ever 6 million people, it still happens. Ocular nevi and melanoma and detection are a critical part of comprehensive eye health.
According to an article published in Retina Today, one of the biggest challenges in ocular melanoma and detection is the similarity between the disease and choroidal nevus. Since both present in a similar fashion, clinicians must have the proper technology for early detection and be cognizant of the characteristics that define ocular melanoma. According to Retina Today, an acronym has been adopted to aid in remembering the risk factors that suggest a nevus is transitioning to melanoma: “To Find Small Ocular Melanoma Using Helpful Hints Daily (TFSOM-UHHD).”
- – T- Thickness of lesion greater than 2 mm
- – F- Fluid (subretinal)
- – S- associated Symptoms
- – O- Orange pigment on the tumor
- – M- Margin is 3 mm or less to the optic disc
- – UH- Ultrasound Hollow
- – H- no Halo
- – D- Drusen is absent
A comprehensive eye exam including optomap® ultra-widefield retinal imaging allows for early detection of nevi and melanomas of the eye due to its ability to capture 200 degrees of the retina in a single capture. Both types of pathology tend to begin in the periphery which means conventional imaging may not detect changes in nevi that may lead to ocular melanoma until it has grown quite large.
Whether you are a clinician or a patient, optomap is clinically proven to see more, discover more and treat more effectively. In an instance of ocular melanoma, this ability can be life-saving. Learn help your practice.