Characteristics of optic disc melanocytomas presenting with visual dysfunction

A retrospective review study was designed to describe five cases of optic disc melanocytomas with tumor-related visual impairment.

Five patients with optic disc melanocytoma presented with visual complaints to a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Demographic and clinical data were analyzed, including the results of ocular examination, lesion laterality, best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, pupillary reflex, visual field testing, color fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and ophthalmic ultrasound.

Visual dysfunction secondary to optic disc melanocytoma was identified. Case 1 had macular star edema with mild tumor enlargement, Case 2 had optic atrophy, Case 3 had juxtapapillary choroidal neovascular membrane with macular involvement, Case 4 had optic disc swelling with an enlarged blind spot, and Case 5 had a large altitudinal visual field defect.

Although melanocytomas of the optic disc tend to have a benign behavior with slow evolution and stable vision, they may adversely affect visual function through a variety of mechanisms.