Ocular malignant melanoma in South African blacks

The incidence of primary ocular malignant melanoma in blacks during the last 25 years in a large part of the Transvaal Province of South Africa is reported. Only 8 cases were diagnosed, 1 uveal, 4 conjunctival, and 3 orbital. During this same period 153 cases of primary ocular malignant melanoma were diagnosed in whites. The rarity of these tumours among blacks is stressed and the reasons for this infrequent incidence discussed.