You may have never realized you could get cancer of the eyes until your optometrist noticed a tumor and referred you to an ophthalmologist for additional testing. This whole process can be scary, and the less you know about it, the scarier it can become. To help ease your worries and give you some peace, here is a look at the tests your ophthalmologist is likely to conduct in order to learn more about your possible cancer.

Ophthalmoscope Imaging

The first thing your opthalmologist will do will likely be to use a special instrument to get a better look at the back of your eye. An opthalmoscope is basically a tool that has a light and a magnifying glass. You will likely be asked to sit with your chin on a platform while your doctor uses this instrument to look deep into your eyes. This won't hurt, but the bright light may be a little bothersome.

Sometimes, the doctor may be able to tell you whether the growth in your eye is benign or potentially cancerous just by looking at it closely through the opthalmoscope. If not, they will move on to the other tests discussed here.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound involves shooting sound waves into your body. These sound waves bounce off of different tissues in different ways, which allows an image to be generated. An ultrasound can give your ophthalmologist a more in-depth look at a tumor that looks suspicious under the opthalmoscope. Basically, this test will involve your doctor rubbing an ultrasound instrument over your closed eyelid. It should be painless.

Biopsy

Most cancers of the eye can be diagnosed using the imaging tests above. However, if your doctor is still not sure whether a tumor is cancerous, or what type of cancer it may be, then they may send you for a biopsy. You'll be given a local or general anesthesia to ensure you do not feel any pain during this procedure. Then, a very fine needle will be used to remove a small part of the tumor, and sometimes also a sample of the fluid in your eye. The cells excised in this biopsy will be examined under a microscope, allowing for a diagnosis.

If your regular optometrist has referred you to ophthalmology services for eye cancer testing, there is no reason to panic. Many tumors are benign, and the tests for eye cancer are either painless or done under anesthetic. Talk to your eye doctor if you have any additional concerns.