#EyeGetDilated: Leah's Story
My name is Leah Smith. I am 62 years old and live in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I have choroidal uveal melanoma. My tumor was first discovered by my optometrist in February 2024, when he noticed a small “freckle” on my right eye during an exam for blurred vision. He referred me to a retinal specialist, who reviewed the images and then referred me to an ophthalmologist and ocular oncologist, Dr. Hanout. I saw Dr. Hanout in March 2024. He told me the spot was precancerous, took measurements, and asked to see me again in July to monitor any growth.
In May 2024, my blurred vision and flashes of light increased, so I returned to see him sooner. He found that the tumor had grown, explained what that meant, and discussed the possibility of seeing Dr. Krema in Toronto if it continued to progress. (It turned out the blurred vision and flashes weren’t caused by the tumor itself, but they led to its discovery.) We decided to wait until August for another check-up. At my August 9 appointment, the tumor had increased in size. Dr. Hanout said the best next step was to see Dr. Krema at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto.
I met with Dr. Krema on August 20, 2024. He confirmed the diagnosis of choroidal uveal melanoma and explained the brachytherapy procedure. I underwent eye plaque brachytherapy on September 5, 2024, to insert the radiation disc, which was removed on September 11.
Since treatment, my tumor has decreased in size at my last two visits which is an encouraging sign as long as it remains stable. The plan is to monitor my eye every six months for five years, and then once a year thereafter.
During the procedure, a biopsy was also taken from the tumor, which showed a high risk of metastasizing to the liver, heart, and lungs. I was referred to Dr. Marcus Butler, a medical oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. I now have an abdominal MRI every six months and a yearly chest CT scan. I connect with Dr. Butler and his wonderful team by teleconference every six months.
My vision is currently quite good. I have some double vision, but prism lenses have corrected it effectively. The team at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has been incredible, they’re always there for support, no matter what.
Now, one year after treatment, I’m deeply grateful for the care I’ve received. I encourage everyone to have regular eye exams, including dilation and optical scans, to check the back of the eye. It could make all the difference.
