Legacy Devers Eye Institute
Ocular Oncology
Ocular Oncology
Tumors can develop in almost any part of the eye and can range from harmless to potentially life-threatening. We are committed to providing exceptional care to every patient with ocular malignancies.
Ocular tumors that we treat
- Orbital tumors
- Eyelid and periocular tumors
- Ocular surface tumors (conjunctival lymphoma, melanoma)
- Uveal melanoma
- Ocular metastatic tumors
- Ocular lymphomas
- Retina vascular tumors
- Choroidal hemangiomas
Uveal melanoma care at Devers Eye Institute
Devers Eye Institute has a long history in the treatment of uveal melanoma and participated in the landmark Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) that established treatment guidelines for this condition. A variety of treatment options are offered to patients with uveal melanoma, which are listed below.
Plaque brachytherapy
the most commonly employed treatment for choroidal melanomas. It involves a surgical procedure in the operating room, where a custom-made disc smaller than the size of a penny is placed directly under the melanoma and on the eyewall for 3-5 days. Subsequent surgery is required to remove the disc after completion of the therapy.
Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery
a highly effective, single day, non-surgical outpatient procedure that has been used for more than two decades for the treatment of uveal melanomas. Legacy Devers Eye Institute is the only ocular oncology center in the Pacific Northwest that offers this innovative treatment for patients with choroidal melanomas.
Laser treatment (transpupillary thermotherapy)
Not typically employed as a primary treatment but is occasionally used as adjunctive treatment after radiation in certain cases.
Enucleation
Enucleation is the surgical removal of the eyeball. It is usually employed for very advanced melanomas that have significantly affected the vision or melanomas that have failed radiation treatment.
Surgical resection
An option for selected patients after other conservative treatment options are considered to cause severe ocular complications. This is a surgery performed in the operating room by a vitreoretinal surgeon.
Doctors & Care Team
Aristomenis Thanos, MD
Ophthalmology – Retina
Laura Gadzala, MD
Ophthalmology – Oculoplastics
Mike Straiko, MD
Ophthalmology – Cornea & Anterior Segment
Andrew Kee, MD
Radiation oncology
Mark Schray, MD
Radiation oncology
Arlan Mintz, MD
Neurosurgery
