Ocular metastases from breast carcinoma: a report of two cases

Abstract

Breast carcinoma metastases to the eye occur more frequently than is clinically recognized. The prevalence of this lesion is not appreciated because of the dominant clinical picture of metastases occurring in other organs or because a number of eye lesions are small and asymptomatic. With the increasing length of survival, more breast cancer patients will require care for ocular metastases. A thorough ophthalmic evaluation, aided by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, usually confirms the diagnosis. Rapid progression of a lesion demands emergency therapy since the dysfunction produced by progressive disease may not otherwise be corrected. Early diagnosis of ocular metastases in patients with breast cancer is important because timely treatment may improve vision and quality of life in the time remaining to patients. Experience with two cases of metastases to the eye from breast cancer are presented, with a review of the literature.