The cause of intraocular (inside the eye) melanoma is unknown though genetics is thought to have a role. Age also plays a role as most of those with eye cancer are aged.

Apart from heredity, a number of risk factors are believed to cause eye cancer:

Sunlight. Over exposure to sunlight increases the risk of contracting eye cancer, particularly eye melanoma. Over exposure is particularly dangerous in early years of life. This is common in the tropics where sunlight is strong.

UV radiation: This is common with the welders, especially those who do their work with naked eyes, greatly increasing their risk of contracting eye melanoma. HIV infection: HIV reduces the immune system, and apart from the risk of infection of other diseases, eye squamous cell carcinoma has been noted to be common. Immune system drug suppressants: These are drugs that are taken for other ailments but end up suppressing the immune system. Good examples are those drugs taken by organ transplant patients to stop their immune systems from rejecting the new organ. Such drugs increase the risk of contracting eye squamous cell carcinoma.

Bacteria: This bacteria is caught from infected birds and other domestic animals. In normal circumstances, it causes lung infections but at times causes eye inflammation, which if not treated, may lead to eye lymphoma. Moles are brown-pigmented parts of the skin. Some are flat while others are raised and at times hairs grow from them. It has been noted that occasionally malignancy occurs within them.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): In combination with other factors, HPV may cause squamous cell carcinoma, as it causes the same in other parts of the body. HPV is common but not every one with it develops eye cancer, so other factors are thought to be involved in combination. Here you can also what is eye cancer.

There are basically two main types of eye cancer: Those that occur in the eye, known as intraocular. These include Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (usually develops in the lymph nodes but sometimes develops in the eye), Ocular melanoma (rare and most common in older people over 50 years) and Retinoblastoma (usually common in children under 5 years and is inherited).  Those that occur outside the eye, known as extraocular. These include Non-melanoma skin cancers (develops on the lower eye lid), Rhabdomyosarcoma (rare and common in children and infects the muscles that control the eye) and Squamous cell carcinoma (to be found on the surface of the eyeball, though it is rare).

There are varied signs or symptoms of eye cancer but these depend on the type and location. Intraocular eye cancers rarely show signs and they are normally detected when eye examination is carried out. Extraocular eye cancers show sign such as flashing lights in vision, a visible lump on eyelid, a black spot on the iris, swelling of the eye and loss of some vision and odd-looking pupil especially in children. Some risk factors increase the chance of having eye cancer. Such are: Over-exposure to UV rays, a weak immune system, Lack of vital minerals, and nutrients, Poor hygiene.

Eye cancer can be treated but this will depend on the type of eye cancer, extent of its spread and the general state of ones health. Treatment can take the form of surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Most types of eye cancer can be easily avoided by eating vegetables rich in minerals and nutrients that the eye requires to perform effectively (kale, spinach, and cabbages) and by keeping high standards of hygiene.