A contact lens is a thin, curved optical device worn directly on the eye’s surface. It sits on the tear film over the cornea and moves slightly with each blink. It is commonly used to correct vision and, in some cases, to protect or support the ocular surface. It is fitted and prescribed by eye care professionals based on the eye’s shape, health, and visual needs.
laser therapy (tumor) uses focused light energy to treat certain eye tumors or tumor-like growths. It is most often performed by ophthalmologists in clinic or outpatient surgical settings. The goal is usually to control tumor activity, reduce leakage or bleeding, or preserve vision when possible. It may be used alone or combined with other tumor treatments.
cryotherapy (tumor) is a treatment that uses controlled freezing to destroy tumor cells. In eye care, it is used by ophthalmologists to treat certain ocular and periocular (around-the-eye) tumors. It can be used as a primary treatment for selected small lesions or as an add-on after surgical removal. The goal is local tumor control while preserving as much normal eye tissue and vision as possible.
enucleation (oncology) is a surgery that removes the entire eyeball (globe) while preserving the surrounding eyelids and most orbital tissues. It is most commonly used in eye cancer care when the eye cannot be safely preserved or when it is unlikely to retain useful vision. The goal is to control or remove a tumor and support long-term health, comfort, and appearance with an orbital implant and ocular prosthesis. It may also be used when a painful, blind eye is present alongside a suspected or confirmed intraocular tumor.
plaque brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation treatment used to treat certain eye tumors. A small “plaque” containing a radiation source is temporarily placed on the outside of the eye near the tumor. It is most commonly used in ocular oncology, especially for tumors arising inside the eye.
A biopsy is a medical test where a small sample of tissue or cells is removed for laboratory analysis. It is used to help identify the cause of a lesion, inflammation, infection, or unusual growth. In eye care, biopsy is commonly used for eyelid, conjunctival (surface of the eye), corneal, orbital, and intraocular conditions. The goal is usually diagnosis, not treatment, although some biopsies also remove the entire abnormal area.
squamous cell carcinoma (lid) is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that arises from squamous cells in the eyelid skin and nearby surface tissues. It commonly appears on sun-exposed eyelid areas and can resemble benign (non-cancerous) lid lesions. In eye care, the term is used to describe a specific diagnosis that requires careful evaluation and treatment planning. It is most often managed by ophthalmologists, oculoplastic surgeons, dermatologic surgeons, and oncology teams depending on the case.
basal cell carcinoma (lid) is a skin cancer that starts from basal cells in the eyelid skin. It usually grows slowly and tends to invade nearby tissue rather than spread far away. It is commonly discussed in eye clinics because eyelids protect the eye and affect vision and comfort. The term is used in ophthalmology, optometry, and dermatology when evaluating eyelid lumps, sores, or non-healing lesions.
sebaceous carcinoma (lid) is a rare malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from oil-producing (sebaceous) glands in the eyelid. It often develops from meibomian glands inside the lid, or from smaller sebaceous glands near eyelashes. It can look like common, non-cancerous eyelid problems, so it may be mistaken for other conditions at first. The term is used in eye care and pathology to describe a specific eyelid cancer diagnosis.
choroidal osteoma is a rare, benign (non-cancerous) tumor made of bone-like tissue inside the eye. It forms in the choroid, the vascular layer beneath the retina that helps nourish retinal tissue. It is most often discussed in retinal clinics because it can affect central vision if it involves the macula. In practice, the term is commonly used as a diagnosis identified through an eye exam and retinal imaging.
metastasis to choroid means cancer cells have spread from another part of the body to the choroid inside the eye. The choroid is a blood-rich layer behind the retina that helps nourish the eye. This term is commonly used in ophthalmology, oncology, and radiology when evaluating new vision symptoms or eye findings in people with known or suspected cancer. It describes a diagnosis (a condition), not a single treatment.
A hemangioma is a benign (non-cancerous) growth made up of blood vessels. In eye care, the term is used for vascular lesions that can involve the eyelid, orbit (eye socket), or tissues inside the eye. Some hemangiomas are present at birth or early childhood, while others are found in adults. Clinicians use the word to describe both a diagnosis and a pattern seen on examination and imaging.
iris melanoma is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that arises from pigment-forming cells (melanocytes) in the iris. The iris is the colored ring of tissue at the front of the eye that controls pupil size. iris melanoma is most commonly discussed in eye cancer care, ocular oncology clinics, and comprehensive eye exams when an iris lesion is noted. It is evaluated using slit-lamp examination and specialized eye imaging, and it may be monitored or treated depending on clinical features.
An iris nevus is a benign (non-cancerous) growth of pigment-forming cells on the iris, the colored part of the eye. It often looks like a small brown spot or a slightly raised pigmented area seen during an eye exam. It is most commonly discussed in ophthalmology and optometry as a clinical finding that may need documentation and monitoring. The main clinical focus is distinguishing an iris nevus from other iris lesions, including rare malignant (cancerous) tumors.
A choroidal nevus is a typically benign (non-cancerous) pigmented spot inside the eye. It forms in the choroid, a vascular layer beneath the retina. Many people have no symptoms, and it is often found during a routine dilated eye exam. In eye care, it is commonly discussed as a finding that may need documentation and monitoring over time.
A nevus is a benign (non-cancerous) growth made up of pigment-producing cells. It is often called a “mole” on the skin, but it can also occur in and around the eye. In eye care, nevus most commonly describes a pigmented spot in the conjunctiva, iris, or choroid. Clinicians use the term to document findings and guide monitoring for change over time.
A conjunctival papilloma is a usually benign (non-cancerous) growth on the conjunctiva, the thin clear tissue covering the white of the eye and inner eyelids. It often looks like a small, raised, fleshy or frond-like bump on the eye surface. The term is commonly used in eye clinics when describing and diagnosing surface lesions seen at the slit-lamp exam. It is also used in pathology reports after a lesion is sampled or removed and examined under a microscope.
ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is a group of abnormal growths that arise from the squamous (flat) surface cells of the eye. It most often affects the conjunctiva (the clear membrane over the white of the eye) and the limbus (the border where conjunctiva meets cornea). It is a clinical term used in eye care to describe a spectrum from pre-cancerous changes to invasive cancer on the eye surface. Clinicians use it when evaluating, diagnosing, and treating suspicious ocular surface lesions.
conjunctival squamous neoplasia is an umbrella term for abnormal growth of squamous (flat) cells on the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white of the eye. It includes a spectrum from pre-cancerous surface changes to more invasive squamous cell cancer. Clinicians use the term when describing suspicious ocular surface lesions, especially near the limbus (the border of the cornea). It is commonly discussed in eye clinics, pathology reports, and ocular oncology care.
ocular lymphoma is a type of cancer in which lymphoma cells involve the eye or tissues around the eye. It can affect structures inside the eye (like the vitreous and retina) or the “ocular adnexa” (eyelid, orbit, lacrimal gland, and conjunctiva). The term is used in ophthalmology, optometry, pathology, radiology, and oncology when evaluating eye symptoms that may reflect a systemic or localized lymphoma. This overview is informational and explains concepts and typical clinical workflows in general terms.