The Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital is a world-class center for the diagnosis and management of eye tumors and cancers. This department is the largest eye cancer center in America. Each year, the physicians and staff manage thousands of patients with various eye cancers. This includes young infants with retinoblastoma, middle age patients with intraocular melanoma, to the elderly with lymphoma. Many of these conditions are serious, life-threatening diseases that require urgent care and a team of qualified physicians and staff. The care that is delivered by the Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital is the best in the nation. Because of the rarity of ocular cancers, many patients travel long distances from across America or abroad to reach this center of excellence. Over the past 40 years of this service, there have been approximately 50,000 patients who have received care by these physicians. The professional and compassionate approach by this team has provided comfort and satisfaction for patients. The Ocular Oncology Service is committed to win the struggle for “life and sight” for each patient.

Wills Eye Hospital was the first eye hospital in the United States of America and it has developed into an international center for eye diseases. Established in 1832 from the donation of James Wills to provide a hospital for the “blind and lame,” Wills Eye Hospital has blossomed into a leader in eye care for America and beyond. More than 250,000 patients with eye problems are managed annually and the most advanced surgery in the nation is pioneered and performed in this institution. Wills Eye Hospital continues to lead the way in cataract surgery, glaucoma management, retinal disease treatment, pediatric eye care, and intraocular tumor treatment. The motto at Wills Eye Hospital is “skill with compassion” and this is evident each day in every patient interaction. The goal of the physicians is to improve quality of patient life with preservation of vision. The logo for Wills Eye Hospital includes the statement “America’s First. World’s Best.” This emphasizes that this hospital has served America longer than any other, for approximately 200 years, and it signifies the quality of care is the best in the world.

The Ocular Oncology Service is growing in size. We now occupy nearly the entire 14th floor at Wills Eye Hospital. Recent renovations have allowed a large patient reception room and diagnostic testing area. We are moving completely into green (paperless) technology and minimizing printed reports and imaging. We are using software technology that allows patients to fill in their medications and information to shorten examination time. The digital era has swept this department! We continue to lead the way with thousands of medical publications on various eye diseases and cancers, intensive research into causes and treatments for eye cancers, and education of colleague physicians and others. We continue to learn each day!