September is Lymphoma Awareness Month
Lymphoma is a certain type of cancer that can affect the eye. There is a specific type of eye cancer known as primary intraocular lymphoma. PIOL can be found in the vitreous, retina or optic nerve. With PIOL your lymphoma cells will invade these areas in the back of your eye. The occurrence of this rare disease has increased incredibly over the years.
Symptoms of Primary Intraocular Lymphoma
There can be a wide range of symptoms that go along with PIOL. The wide range of symptoms can make it difficult to make this diagnosis. The most common symptoms associated with PIOL include blurry vision, decrease or even loss of vision.
How to Treat PIOL
Ocular Lymphomas will not heal on their own and will require treatment. If PIOL is indicated a biopsy will be performed to confirm the diagnosis before treatment. Initial therapy options include methotrexate chemotherapy and radiotherapy of the brain and the eye. The methotrexate chemotherapy is an intravitreal treatment. The methotrexate is injected into the eye.
Our Oncology Team at Tennessee Retina
The longest established retina practice in the state, Tennessee Retina has grown to become the largest practice for retinal care in Middle Tennessee. Under the leadership of Dr. David Reichstein and his team, Tennessee Retina's Ocular Oncology service is now one of the largest and most active in the country, serving thousands of ocular cancer patients. The service works closely with Tennessee Oncology and the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute. Tennessee Retina is committed to providing the highest level of care, using the most advanced techniques, and we continually seek opportunities to bring new therapies to our patients.