Proton Therapy for Conditions of the Eye

Abstract

Uveal melanoma is the most common condition of the eye that is treated with radiation therapy. While there are several modalities that are available to treat uveal melanoma, proton beam therapy is an ideal treatment for properly selected patients because of steeper dose falloff and less dose to normal tissues with proton beam therapy compared with photons. Thousands of patients have been safely and effectively treated with proton beam therapy for uveal melanoma. Other conditions in the eye that have been managed with proton beam therapy include retinoblastoma, orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, and optic pathway glioma. More research on these indications is needed to realize the full potential of proton beam therapy for conditions of the eye.