Management of Ocular Surface Tumors: Excision vs. Topical Treatment

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) encompasses a range of corneal and conjunctival lesions from intraepithelial dysplasia to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The mainstay of treatment for OSSN has traditionally been surgical excision with wide margins and cryotherapy. Increasing evidence on the efficacy and safety of medical therapy and the avoidance of surgical complications has made topical chemotherapy increasingly popular among corneal specialists. The most common topical agents used for the treatment of OSSN include mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, and interferon a 2b. Herein, we review recent advances in the surgical and medical management of OSSN and discuss advantages and disadvantages of each approach. The role of ultra highresolution optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis and treatment of primary and recurrent OSSN lesions is also discussed.