Three Retinal Detachment Operations on an Eye Containing a Choroidal Melanoma

Abstract

Approximately 11% of all intraocular melanomas found in enucleated eyes are unsuspected clinically. 1 If the retinal detachment associated with such melanomas is mistaken for an idiopathic serous detachment and treated, the possible results are illustrated by the following: Report of Case The blind left eye of a 50-year-old white woman was enucleated with clinical diagnoses of chronic glaucoma, cataracta complicata, and retinal detachment. Nearly five years before, in March, 1957, a diathermy operation to correct detachment of most of the lower half of the retina had been performed. Except for a small area at the six o'clock position, the retina was in satisfactory position postoperatively. A second diathermy operation performed in October, 1957, seemed to produce satisfactory results until August, 1958, when the retina separated again. Two months later a scleral buckling with an encircling polyethylene tube was performed, but the retinal detachment persisted. Elevated intraocular pressure was first