Apr 24, 2008

THE EYE MAN: Cancer of the breast can spread to eyes

Dr. Andrew Soss / Daily News columnist

Dr. Soss: I had an eye checkup a couple of weeks or so ago with a new doctor. She asked me all kinds of questions about my health and so forth. I told her that I had breast cancer surgery about three years ago, but it doesn't have anything to do with my eyes. She really seemed to focus in on that information like it was important to my eyes. After the exam, everything was fine, I guess, but she didn't mention anything about what possible relationship breast cancer would have with my eyes. What do you think she was getting at?

H.C.



H.C.: A comprehensive eye examination is just that: comprehensive. In other words, when doctors ask questions regarding your general health and or eye health, they are trying to obtain information that will allow them to better assess a number of related conditions.

Many people are not aware of the fact that breast cancer is metastatic. In short, this means the cancer can spread from its primary site (the breast) to other organ sites, including, in some instances, the eye. In my 23 years of practice, I have seen a number of these lesions, which must be managed promptly. What surprises me more is that many oncologists (cancer specialists) do not refer ALL of their breast cancer patients to eye doctors for evaluations as a part of the patient's required care. Additionally, the general public seems to not be aware of the potential consequences of not having comprehensive multidisciplinary care. Perhaps the aforementioned lack of referrals has something to do with the lack of awareness that the general public has.

If you have or have had breast cancer, you should have regular interval eye examinations regardless of an oncologist referral. With this disorder, as with many others, prompt management is the key to the best outcome. So, kudos to your eye doctor who took the time to concern herself admirably with your overall well-being. Although, had she taken just a moment longer to explain some of this to you, there would not have been any further cause for concern at present.

Questions to Dr. Soss should be sent to his e-mail theeyedoctor@att.net or via his Web site at www.dr-andrewsoss.com. All answers & opinions are those of Dr. Soss and not necessarily shared, endorsed or affiliated with this or any of our newspaper agencies.



Dr. Andrew C. Soss OD, FAAO, has been practicing for over 20 years. During that time he has been a clinical instructor in the department of ocular pathology at the University of California. As a primary eye care provider in private practice in Burlingame, he is also board certified in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of primary open angle glaucoma.