Ocular metastasis of cutaneous malignant melanoma

Metastatic melanoma to the eye and orbit are rare. Patients at greatest risk often have disseminated metastases in the setting of advanced disease. Because the prognosis for orbital metastatic disease is poor, emphasis must be placed on early detection and prevention. Although cutaneous malignancies include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma, the majority of cases that result in metastasis, ocular morbidity, and mortality are from sebaceous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

A 72-year-old white woman presented emergently with a chief complaint of sudden, painless vision loss in her left eye of 2 weeks' duration. Her best-corrected visual acuities measured 20/30 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left eye with no improvement on refraction. Her systemic medical history was significant for the diagnosis of a cutaneous malignant melanoma. Examination of the left eye found grade II disc edema with all other posterior pole and peripheral structures intact and unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic lesions involving structures of the left orbit ultimately causing reduced visual ability. The patient opted to avoid aggressive care and "hope for the best." Denying significant medical intervention, the woman lived in hospice where she died 6 months later.

The primary care optometric setting, by the way a patient's visual symptoms present or the appearance of fundus abnormalities, can offer the capability of first detection and referral for the discovery of metastatic lesions. Although orbital metastasis is considered a terminal finding in these cases, timely diagnosis enables, while limited, the best options for management.