Commentary by Tammy Wittman

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Many people do not realize that breast cancer can spread to the eye. In fact, the most common type of ocular tumor in women comes from breast cancer. I have seen many breast cancer survivors who tell me they did not know this.

Sadly, often a patient will not experience any visual symptoms with an ocular tumor.

In fact, when I was doing my externships with a retinal specialist, I saw a patient who was referred to us for a suspicious looking ocular tumor. She was in her late 50s and was visiting her daughter. Her daughter wanted her mom’s eyes checked because she had not had them checked “in years.”

This tumor turned out to be metastatic from breast cancer. The patient did not even know she had breast cancer at all.

If you, or anyone you know has, or has had breast cancer, please schedule your comprehensive eye examination with your eye doctor.

Early intervention is the best hope for a successful treatment.