Visual function following enucleation or episcleral plaque radiotherapy for posterior uveal melanoma.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the posttreatment visual performance of patients with a primary posterior uveal melanoma treated by enucleation or plaque radiotherapy.

DESIGN

Standardized interview using previously reported interview instrument.

SETTING

Referral center.

PATIENTS: One hundred two patients with malignant melanoma of choroid or ciliary body, 51 of whom had been treated by primary enucleation and 51 of whom had been treated by plaque radiotherapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vision-related changes in employment status, driving status, reading ability, and television-watching ability during available posttreatment follow-up.

RESULTS

Forty-eight (94.1%) of the patients who had undergone enucleation and 46 (90.2%) of the patients who had undergone irradiation reported no vision-related change in any of four evaluated areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The great majority of patients with posterior uveal melanoma retain satisfactory visual performance status for many years after initial treatment, regardless of whether that treatment was enucleation or plaque radiotherapy.