Ten years experience with eye wall resection for uveal malignant melanomas

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oncology

Background:

• Choroidal malignant melanoma is a rare intraocular tumor requiring effective treatment strategies.
• Eye wall resection is a surgical option for preserving vision in select cases.

Observation:

• Thirty-four patients underwent eye wall resection for choroidal malignant melanoma.
• The mean follow-up period exceeded 5.3 years.
• Eleven eyes required enucleation due to postoperative complications.

Findings:

• Postoperative visual acuity varied significantly, from light perception to 20/30.
• No local metastasis was observed in any patient.
• Two patients developed liver metastasis four years post-surgery, leading to death.

Implications:

• Eye wall resection can be a viable organ-sparing treatment for choroidal melanoma.
• Close monitoring for distant metastasis is crucial after this procedure.
• Further research is needed to optimize outcomes and reduce complication rates.