Treatments for eye cancer

Your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. The plan is based on your health and specific information about the cancer. What you want is also important when planning treatment. The goal of your treatment plan will be to treat the cancer and prevent it from spreading while preserving your vision as much as possible.

When deciding which treatments to offer for eye cancer, your healthcare team will consider:

  • the type of eye cancer (melanoma, lymphoma or squamous cell carcinoma)
  • the size of the tumour and where it is in the eye
  • how the cancer is affecting your vision
  • how a treatment may affect your vision
  • the stage of the cancer
  • your age
  • your overall health
  • any medical problems you have
  • your lifestyle and what you prefer or want

Eye cancer is often treated with radiation therapy or surgery. You may also have a combination of other treatments to treat eye cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Treatments for melanoma of the eye

Melanoma of the eye is a type of eye cancer. It is often treated with radiation therapy or surgery. Immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy or active surveillance may also be used.

Treatments for lymphoma of the eye

Lymphoma of the eye can be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma of the eye

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the eye can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Radiation therapy for eye cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Eye cancer is often treated with radiation therapy.

Surgery for eye cancer

Surgery is a medical procedure to examine, remove or repair tissue. Eye cancer is sometimes treated with surgery.

Chemotherapy for eye cancer

Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Eye cancer is sometimes treated with chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy for eye cancer

Eye cancer is sometimes treated with immunotherapy. It helps strengthen the immune system to fight cancer.

Targeted therapy for eye cancer

Targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific molecules on cancer cells or inside them. Eye cancer is sometimes treated with targeted therapy.

Active surveillance (watchful waiting) for eye cancer

Active surveillance may be offered for eye cancer. The healthcare team watches the cancer closely to see if it is growing before offering other treatments.

Follow-up after treatment for eye cancer

Follow-up is an important part of care for eye cancer. It often involves regular tests and visits with the healthcare team.

Your trusted source for accurate cancer information

With just $5 from readers like you, we can continue to provide the highest quality cancer information for over 100 types of cancer.

We’re here to ensure easy access to accurate cancer information for you and the millions of people who visit this website every year. But we can’t do it alone.

If everyone reading this gave just $5, we could achieve our goal this month to fund reliable cancer information, compassionate support services and the most promising research. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.

The Canadian Cancer Society is not responsible for the quality of the information or services provided by other organizations and mentioned on cancer.ca, nor do we endorse any service, product, treatment or therapy.


1-888-939-3333 | cancer.ca | © 2025 Canadian Cancer Society