Rarely, tumors, either cancerous or noncancerous, can form in the tissues behind the eye. Tumors can form within the tissues behind the eye, or cancerous tumors from elsewhere in the body can spread (metastasize) to the tissues behind the eye.

These tumors can push the eye forward (exophthalmos). Usually a biopsy is needed to determine what type of tumor is present, and treatment depends on these results. Treatment may include surgical removal, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments.

Last full review/revision February 2003