Can scleral Melanocytosis be treated?

In Asian individuals scleral melanocytosis is a benign condition and no treatment is necessary. In Caucasian individuals, scleral melanocytosis is associated with an increased risk of uveal melanoma, and lifetime ophthalmologic monitoring is warranted.

What is Oculodermal Melanocytosis?

A condition marked by brown, blue, or gray patches, usually on the inside of the eye and on the skin near or around the eye. It may also affect the eyelid and mouth. It is caused by an increase in the number of cells called melanocytes in skin and eye tissue.

How do you get rid of ocular Melanocytosis?

Treatment of ocular melanoma is based on what part of the eye is affected and whether it has metastasized to other parts of the body. Surgery is one method for treating melanoma of the eye. Removal of the eye (enucleation) may be necessary in some cases of large tumors when other treatment methods are not suitable.

Is scleral Melanocytosis permanent?

Oculomucodermal melanocytosis (Nevus of Ota) is a benign dermal melanocytosis, that results in hyperpigmentation of the sclera and ipsilateral face. Presenting at birth or by adolescence, these lesions tend to remain unchanged throughout life but can darken overtime due to sun exposure.

Is ocular melanocytosis serious?

Oculodermal melanocytosis (ODM) is an uncommon condition, but it is a profound predisposing factor for uveal melanoma. ODM serves as a precursor to uveal melanoma, and recognition of ODM can allow early detection of melanoma. However, melanoma that arises in eyes with ODM carries a more ominous prognosis.

How common is scleral Melanocytosis?

Scleral melanocytosis was found in 4.9% of boys and 4.1% of girls under one year of age. The peak prevalence was at 6 years of age when 44.6% of boys and 46.6% of girls were found to have scleral melanocytosis. The prevalence decreased thereafter.

How common is ocular melanocytosis?

Ocular melanosis (OM), also known as ocular melanocytosis or melanosis oculi, is a congenital disease of the eye, which affects approximately 1 in every 5,000 people, and is a risk factor for uveal melanoma.

Is nevus curable?

Nevus of Ota is typically benign, but some people may want to have it removed for cosmetic reasons. There are a variety of treatments available. Experts note that some of these treatments may lead to scarring.

What causes grey sclera?

Senile scleral plaques: With age, the sclera can develop calcium deposits. These plaques may appear as gray spots at the 3 and 9 o’clock portions of your sclera. Only rarely can they erode through the conjunctival surface and cause irritation or infection.

Is nevus of Ota curable?

Laser treatments are the most effective corrective approach to nevus of Ota, although they must be repeated more than once, with multiple approaches and applications. The laser treatments work to destroy the melanocytes that cause the bluish hyperpigmentation, with the goal of returning the skin to its natural pigment.

What causes ocular melanocytosis?

Ocular Melanosis is inherited, although the specific genes and mode of inheritance is not completely understood. The condition causes pigmented (i.e. brown) cells to accumulate in the eye and eventually block the drains that are responsible for removing fluid from the eye.

Is melanoma curable?

Melanoma is the most invasive skin cancer with the highest risk of death. While it’s a serious skin cancer, it’s highly curable if caught early. Prevention and early treatment are critical, especially if you have fair skin, blonde or red hair and blue eyes.

Is nevus genetic?

Most epidermal nevus syndromes are thought to be caused by a gene mutation that occurs after fertilization of the embryo (postzygotic mutation), at an early stage of embryonic development. Affected individuals have some cells with a normal copy of this gene and some cells with the abnormal gene (mosaic pattern).

What is the prognosis of abnormal oculodermal melanocytosis?

Abnormality portends guarded prognosis for choroidal melanoma. Oculodermal melanocytosis (ODM), also known as nevus of Ota, is a congenital pigmentary abnormality in the periocular region characterized by excessive melanocytes.

What is oculodermal melanosis (Nevus of Ota)?

Definition: Oculodermal melanosis (Nevus of Ota), also known as oculodermal melanocytosis, oculomucodermal melanocytosis, or congenital melanosis bulbi, is a benign mesodermal melanosis involving the distributions of the ophthalmic and maxillary trigeminal nerve with associated hyperpigmentation of the eye and its adnexa.

Is oculomucodermal melanocytosis associated with uveal melanoma a risk factor for metastatic melanoma?

However Shields et al found that patients with uveal melanoma associated with oculodermal melanocytosis have a twice as likely risk for metastasis compared to those without melanocytosis. Oculomucodermal melanocytosis (Nevus of Ota) is a benign dermal melanocytosis, that results in hyperpigmentation of the sclera and ipsilateral face.

What are the treatment options for melanocytosis?

Surgical resection of melanocytosis lesions is not advised, however screening every 6 months for the development of malignant melanoma should also be done, using slit lamp biomicroscopy, and pupillary dilation for ophthalmoscopy.