Melanoma of the eye: revealing hidden secrets, one at a time

Melanoma of the eye can involve the uveal tract with iris, ciliary body, or choroid involvement or it can involve the conjunctiva, eyelid, or orbit. Uveal involvement with choroidal melanoma is the most common, found in light complexion Caucasians with an age-adjusted incidence of 4.3 per million persons. Early detection of uveal melanoma is critical. The ABCDEF guide helps to differentiate iris nevus from iris melanoma. The letters represent: A, age young (≤40 years); B, blood in anterior chamber; C, clock hour of mass inferiorly; D, diffuse configuration; E, ectropion; and F, feathery margins. The mnemonic of TFSOM-UHHD (To Find Small Ocular Melanoma-Using Helpful Hints Daily) helps to differentiate choroidal nevus from small melanoma and represents: T, thickness over 2 mm; F, fluid; S, symptoms; O, orange pigment; M, margin within 3 mm of the optic disc; UH, ultrasound hollow; H, halo absent; and D, drusen absent. Patients with 3 or more of these factors are likely to have melanoma. These key clinical features help to identify small melanoma at a time when therapy could be life-saving. Conjunctival melanoma usually arises from primary acquired melanosis, a flat pigmentation that can lead to melanoma. Wide excision using no touch strategy is important to tumor control. Ocular examination is advised annually for all persons for detection of refractive error, cataract, glaucoma, and other conditions, but also for the detection of asymptomatic malignancies like melanoma. One at a time, we have uncovered the secrets of ocular melanoma and we forge ahead with the goal to solve the riddle of this challenging disease.