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My cat has iris melanosis. What are non-surgical treatment options?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Scottish Fold | Male | unneutered | 2 years and 1 month old

My cat 2 years old Scottish Fold have a "iris melanosis" for a one year. I can't do anything no one don't know anything about this. Vets says "If it's a bad cancer we gonna take off your cat's eye" I don't want it yes i'll love my cat with one eye or blind it's not problem, problem is we're in 21'st century so we need have a some other solution. Not taking off eyes not hard surgeries we should fix it easily. What i should do? I feel myself so helpless, please help me.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Strydom, DVM

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 28th, 2017

First off, are you sure of the diagnosis. Iris melanosis is usually found in older cats. It is not impossible for Foggy to have it at his age but it is not common.

Luckily, most cases of iris melanosis do not undergo malignant change to melanoma. In fact, a cat with progressive iris melanosis is more likely to develop glaucoma from infiltration and obstruction of the drainage angle (the area in the eye where the intraocular fluid drains) than he is to develop distant metastasis.

Although opinions vary, the usual approach to cats with iris melanosis is to follow the progress by semi-frequent (2 times per year) re-examination. If glaucoma develops, and the eye is painful, enucleation (removal) of the eye is recommended. If any of the pigmented lesions become raised, velvety or if pupillary distortion is evident this would suggest progression and the risk of malignant transformation.

It is possible to do a fine needle aspiration biopsy of the mass and collect enough cells for a definitive diagnosis by the pathologist. This is a tricky technique which should only be done by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Two possible treatment options exist for iris melanoma. The first is a laser treatment using a diode laser to destroy the tumor cells. Laser treatment is confined to small masses.

The second treatment option is enucleation (removal of the eye). This is to prevent spread of the cancer.

There is no chemotherapy for this type of tumor/cancer if it progresses to that stage.

Hope this clarifies. Best wishes to you and Foggy.
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