Patients No Longer Need to Leave Nebraska for Advanced Ocular Tumor and Ocular Oncology Care
Ocular Oncology is an underrepresented subspecialty of Ophthalmology and most patients diagnosed with an ocular tumor in the past had to leave Nebraska for advanced care. With the addition of Dr. Pukhraj Rishi, MBBS, Nebraska Medicine's Truhlsen Eye Institute is now able to offer world class ocular oncology services for adult and pediatric patients.
The new Ocular Oncology Service at Truhlsen Eye Institute is one of only a small number of centers in the nation which provide dedicated care for intraocular and periocular cancers for adults and children. Fellowship-trained subspecialists on the Ocular and Orbital Oncology Service deliver a full range of innovative approaches to manage tumors of the eye, conjunctiva, iris, retina, and choroid; eyelid, tear duct, and orbital and periorbital structures. Care is also provided to the cancer patient with treatment-related vision side effects.
Ocular oncology involves the treatment of cancers and tumors that are located in or around the eye. These conditions have a broad range in regard to their severity, as some may be relatively harmless, while others may pose a risk to a person’s vision. Certain ocular tumors like retinoblastoma are potentially life-threatening.
Secondary cancers and tumors refer to growths that have made their way to the eye region as the result of unrelated conditions, such as lymphoma and leukemia. These growths begin in other areas of the body and then eventually make their way to the eye area.
Treatment options for eye cancers and tumors can include surgical removal, radiation, and chemotherapy. Ocular and orbital tumor treatments at the Truhlsen Eye Institute are performed by a multidisciplinary team that includes medical and radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, and social workers in the UNMC Hospital to provide integrated, multidisciplinary care.
Common Conditions Treated at TEI
• Uveal Melanoma
• Retinoblastoma
• Eye Lymphoma
• Eyelid Cancers
• Nevus (Eye Freckle)
Types of Surgery and Treatments
• Radiation Plaque Therapy (Brachytherapy)
• External Beam Radiation Therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Eye Cancer Surgery
The Truhlsen Eye Institute also provides Childhood Ocular Oncology and pediatric retina services. The team also has experience treating a wide range of other childhood conditions and genetic syndromes that cause tumors and affect the eye. If you have a pediatric patient with eye conditions, we are here to answer questions and help.
We understand this is a team approach, together we can work with you to understand if your patient may benefit from these services. If you have questions or to refer a patient, please contact me anytime.