The Ophthalmology Unit, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kuching, Sarawak.
The Ophthalmology Department, SarawakGeneralHospital,
Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia.
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Melanosis oculi
Photo by Dr. Lo
A 5 year-old girl was
noted to have discoloration of her left supero-temporal sclera. There was no
skin pigmentation. Fundoscopy revealed some pigmentary changes at the
periphery (could not be photographed as the patient could not keep still).
Melanosis oculi is a congenital
blue nevus of the episclera and sclera. It is associated with an increased
pigmentation in the uveal tract. Multiple gray pathces are seen in the
sclera and episclera, and the ipsilateral iris and fundus are darker than
those of the unaffected eye. If there is co-existing ipsilateral eyelid
pigmentation, it is referred to as naevus of Ota (oculodermal melanocytosis).
Malignant transformation of the uveal tissue is a rare complication and
tends to occur in Caucasian patients.
