Can Eye Cancer Be Prevented?

While there are some known risk factors for eye cancer (especially melanoma of the eye, or intraocular melanoma), most of these factors are not things that can be changed, so it’s not clear if there are ways to prevent or lower your risk of eye cancer.

We know there is a link between sunlight and melanomas of the skin, and there are things you can do that might reduce your risk of these cancers, including limiting your exposure to intense sunlight, covering up with protective hats and clothing, and using sunscreen. Learn more in How to Protect Your Skin from UV Rays.

The American Cancer Society also recommends wearing UV-protected sunglasses when outside in strong sunlight. Wrap-around sunglasses with 99% to 100% UVA and UVB absorption provide the best protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin. This might help reduce the risk of developing cancers of the skin around the eyes.

The link between sunlight and eye melanomas is not proven, and if there is an increased risk it is likely to be small. Still, some doctors think that sunglasses might also help reduce eye melanoma risk.