Melanomas are bigger in men

Uveal melanomas in men tend to be bigger and found nearer the back of the eye than in women.

A review of the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre database, published in this month's Eye Journal, has revealed that uveal tumours in men were more likely to extend to within 3mm of the optic disc, showing more extensive optic disc involvement.

The median tumour diameter was 4.4mm for men, compared with 3.8mm in women, while 89.5 per cent of the tumours arose in the choroid, with 5.3 per cent found in the ciliary body and 5.2 per cent in the iris.

The findings from Bertil Damato and his team suggest that there may be gender differences that could influence the initial detection of melanoma in the eye.