Ciliary body melanoma

Clinical features

• External signs include dilated episcleral blood vessels. Extraocular erosion may produce a dark mass beneath the conjunctiva.
• Pressure on the lens by the enlarging tumor can cause astigmatism, sublaxtion of the lens and formation of a localised lens opacity.
• The tumor can erode forward through the iris root and mimic an iris melanoma.
• Retinal detachment can be rarely caused by posterior extension of the tumor.
• Anterior uveitis is an uncommon presentation and occurs due to tumor necrosis.
• Cirumferentially growing tumors carry a bad prognosis as they are diagnosed late.
• At times the tumor is detected as an incidental finding during routine examination.

Treatment