Mélanose conjonctivale ethnique bilatérale et cataracte congénitale

Abstract

We report the case of a female child aged eight years presenting with total congenital cataract in the right eye. The patient had a history of left eye cataract surgery with implantation into the capsular bag. Examination found maximum bilateral conjunctival pigmentation at the level of the limbus, invading the bulbar conjunctiva. Examination of the left eye showed Soemmering ring. The main differential diagnoses included congenital melanosis and acquired melanosis. No specific management was undertaken for conjunctival melanosis and simple monitoring was recommended. Ethnic or racial melanosis is common in patients with brown pigmentation and is characterized by a proliferation of benign melanocytes along the basal membrane of the epithelium. The risk of malignant transformation is very rare, therefore regular monitoring is recommended.