Ocular Oncology in India for Global Patients

Ocular Oncology in India saves vision and lives. GetWellGo connects you with top eye cancer specialists while handling your medical visa and entire stay.

Ocular Oncology in India for Global Patients

Ocular oncology India

Ocular oncology has become a very specialized medical specialized field with the aim of diagnosing and managing eye cancers and tumours - as well as cancer and tumours of the eyelids, conjunctiva, and around the eye - such as in the orbit and surrounding tissues (such as retinoblastoma). The first is to save life, and then have eye and vision where feasible. Eye cancers are not common but severe. Other ocular malignancies that are more prevalent in India include retinoblastoma (particularly in children) and most cases of the disease are diagnosed at advanced phases because of poor awareness. Management is always a multidisciplinary group of ocular oncologists, ophthalmologists, radiation and medical oncologists, pathologists, pediatric and occasionally reconstructive surgery specialists.

Ocular Oncologist conditions

Common tumour types include:

  • Retinoblastoma (particularly among children)
  • Uveal melanoma
  • Conjunctival carcinoma
  • Eyelid tumors
  • Orbital tumours
  • Eye metastatic lesions.

These are identified and managed with the use of imaging, biopsy, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or combinations thereof on a case-by-case basis.

Eye cancer treatment India

Therapy of eye cancers - e.g., retinoblastoma (children), uveal melanoma, conjunctival carcinoma or orbital tumours - are normally multidisciplinary and depend on the kind, size, location and stage of the cancer. Typical approaches include:

  • Excision of the tumour, and if necessary removal of the eye to preserve life. Surgery could be enucleation or exenteration of the eye, depending on urgency of situation.
  • Chemotherapy — by mouth or to the eye.
  • Radiation - Brachytherapy (radioactive plaque near the tumour) or external beam radiation.
  • Laser, Cryotherapy & Thermotherapy This treatment is used for small tumours or surface tumours.
  • New and improved treatment interventions - There is some movement towards specialised radiation such as gamma knife to treat resistant cases.

Goals of treatment are:

  • Life salvage,
  • Globe (eye) preservation, and
  • Maintain the vision where feasible.

Emerging Innovations and research in India

  • Application Gamma Knife radiation is now being trials in cases of resistant retinoblastoma, in which focused non-invasive radiation therapy is used as a means to save vision.
  • Intravitreal chemotherapy alternatives - new drugs such as topotecan are under investigation as a safer and effective management in the recurrent retinoblastoma.

Best ocular oncology specialists India

Ocular oncology hospitals India

Retinoblastoma treatment India

Retinoblastoma is a severe eye cancer that occurs in children (in the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye) but is very rare. When early discovered, it is usually treated with success and most children can be cured, many of them preserving the good use of their sight.

Common Treatment Options

Chemotherapy

  • Systemic intravenous chemotherapy to reduce tumor size.
  • Chemotherapy is delivered through the artery that provides blood flow to the eye, allowing for more direct treatment of the eye with greater efficacy and fewer side effects. This has enhanced world (eye) salvages in most Indian centres.

Focal Therapies

  • Laser photocoagulation: Laser light is absorbed in and vaporizes the blood vessels of the tumour leading to its regression.
  • Cryotherapy: Application of cold to destroy abnormal tissue.
  • Transpupillary thermotherapy: Heat treatment.  
  • They are usually used together with chemo to achieve more results.

Radiation Therapy

  • Plaque brachytherapy: Radioactive plaque, placed adjacent to tumour.
  • External beam radiation on selected cases in selected centres.
  • The gamma knife radiosurgery has undergone piloting as an accurate and one-day targeted therapy when other treatments fail.

Surgery 

  • The eye may need to be removed if the tumour is very large, causing threat to the life.   At later times children may be given the prosthetic eye as a physical appearance and psychological-social support.

Genetic Counselling and Testing

  • Heritable retinoblastoma needs family genetic counselling and occasionally testing to assist in the future planning and early detection of the disease. 

Conclusion

Eye cancer, particularly retinoblastoma is a severe but very manageable category of diseases when detected early in life and treated accordingly. Improved ocular oncology, intra-arterial and intravitreal chemotherapy, focal laser and cryotherapy, plaque brachytherapy, and better surgical and rehabilitation methods in India have significantly enhanced better survival, eye preservation and vision. Several centres of multidisciplinary expertise is now present in the country, and thus the world-class treatment can now be more affordable and accessible than in many regions across the globe. Nevertheless, timely referral and early determination are the most crucial issues that can affect outcomes, especially in children. Awareness creation among parents, primary care providers, and ophthalmologists as well as genetic counselling and long-term follow-up is crucial in the prevention of morbidity and mortality. In general, as the professionalism, technology, and care models are expanding, India can be optimistic in providing an efficient and holistic care in the treatment of eye cancer, which provides a chance to heal, maintain their eyesight, and enjoy their lives with their relatives.

Ocular Oncology in India with GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Help in identifying India's best hospitals for Ocular Oncology.
  • Expert eye oncologists with high success rate and experience.
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
  • Language Support
  • Travel and Accommodation Services
  • Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
  • Local SIM Cards
  • Currency Exchange
  • Arranging Patient’s local food

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