A rare form of ocular malignancy
Ocular lymphoma is a rare form of malignancy that can affect different structures of the eye. It may occur inside the eye, involving the retina and vitreous, while other forms may affect the uvea, orbit, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
Early diagnosis is particularly important, as ocular lymphoma may be associated with lymphoma of the central nervous system or may represent a manifestation of systemic disease
Symptoms vary depending on the type and location of the lymphoma and may include:
Vitreoretinal lymphoma can resemble chronic uveitis and may initially respond temporarily to corticosteroids.
Risk factors associated with ocular lymphoma include older age, immunosuppression, HIV infection, organ transplantation, and immunosuppressive therapy. Ocular lymphoma may also occur in association with systemic lymphoproliferative disorders. In many cases, however, no specific risk factor can be identified.
Diagnosis is based on a detailed ophthalmic examination and modern imaging techniques, including OCT, fundus photography, and fundus autofluorescence. Depending on the findings, additional investigations such as ocular ultrasound or other imaging studies may be required.
When vitreoretinal lymphoma is suspected, diagnostic vitrectomy may be necessary to obtain a vitreous sample for cytological, immunological, and molecular analysis. Brain MRI, together with systemic and neurological assessment, may also be important in selected cases because of the association between ocular lymphoma and central nervous system lymphoma.
Treatment depends on the type and extent of lymphoma and is coordinated between ophthalmologists, oncologists and, when appropriate, neuro-oncology specialists.
Treatment may include:
Treatment is highly individualised and requires long-term ophthalmic and systemic follow-up.
When to seek an assessment
You should seek specialist assessment if you develop persistent or unexplained blurred vision, new floaters, painless visual deterioration or recurrent inflammation that does not respond as expected to treatment.
A specialist ocular oncology or uveitis assessment is particularly important when presumed uveitis is atypical, recurrent or incompletely responsive to corticosteroids, especially in an older patient.
The assessment and management of ocular lymphoma often require a multidisciplinary approach involving different medical specialties. For specialist assessment or if you have any questions, book an appointment.
This page provides general information only and is not a substitute for an individual consultation.
