Choroidal Haemangioma - Dr. David Sia

This is a benign growth of a vascular lesion within the choroidal layer of the eye.
As this is a benign lesion, it does not require treatment unless it starts to leak and threaten the vision.
The correct diagnosis of this lesion is imperative as it can mimic the appearance of a choroidal melanoma which is a malignant tumour.
Treatment of choroidal haemangiomas may involve PDT laser or radiation therapy.

This procedure is performed in the clinic, usually on a separate appointment.
The patient receives a special dye injection into the veins which is then activated by the PDT laser performed directly to the lesion in the eye.
The photosensitive dye circulates throughout the body and patients are advised to bring a hat and to avoid exposure to sunlight for a few days following the procedure.

Plaque radiation therapy or plaque brachytherapy is a treatment where focal radiation is delivered to the tumour inside the eye by suturing a radioactive plaque to the outside of the eye.
This focused delivery allows the sparing of critical structures of the eye and body from unnecessary radiation damage.
This treatment involves two separate operations, usually a few days apart. The first operation is to insert the radioactive plaque and the second operation to remove it from the eye.
These procedures are performed under general anaesthesia at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Following insertion of the plaque, the patient is admitted to the hospital as an in-patient until the second operation. Visitors are allowed.
After the second operation, the patient can be discharged home with eye drops to use.
This procedure has a very high success rate of greater than 90% to treat the tumour in the eye.