Intraocular oncological surgery

Eye cancer is a general term used to describe a variety of malignant tumours that originate in the eye. Depending on where the cancer started, a distinction is made between eyelid and orbital cancers and intraocular malignant tumours.

Malignant tumours can develop from different ocular cells in both children and adults. In children, the most common intraocular malignancy is retinoblastoma – a rare malignant retinal tumour. In adults, the most common intraocular malignancy is ocular melanoma. We have long-standing experience in the diagnosis and treatment of various ocular malignant tumours. Since 1993, our Eye Clinic has been the Baltic Centre of Ocular Oncology, treating patients with intraocular and orbital tumours from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. We collaborate with Latvian centres both for consultations and resident training. Ophthalmology residents from several countries train in ocular oncology at our Eye Clinic.

In 2011, our Eye Clinic was recognised by the European Board of Ophthalmology as an internationally accredited eye clinic. Since 2016, East Tallinn Central Hospital Eye Clinic has been part of the ERN-EYE (European Reference Network) rare diseases network.

At our hospital’s eye clinic, both surgical and radiotherapy treatments for ocular tumours are performed: complex eyelid tumour surgeries, ocular plastic reconstructions and, since 1993, radiotherapy for intraocular tumours (brachytherapy).

The eye clinic treats malignant eye tumours in both children and adults.

Children with retinoblastoma are offered both surgical and radiotherapy treatment. For systemic oncological treatment and monitoring, we collaborate closely with Tallinn Children’s Hospital. If indicated, the patient will be referred to the Jules Gonin Eye Clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland, for intra-arterial chemotherapy.

In treating cornea melanoma, brachytherapy is the first-line treatment.

If the tumour has spread from the eye to other areas, the patient may be referred for chemotherapy.