Secondary open angle glaucoma in a child with congenital oculodermal melanocytosis

Abstract

Congenital oculodermal melanocytosis, a pigmented ocular surface lesion in children, may pose a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge even to the eye physician. Further, parents, care givers and non-eye care physicians are often unaware of this diagnosis and its associated potential ocular morbid conditions or the potential for malignancy thereby causing a delay in examination of such affected eyes. This article highlights an uncommon pigmented ocular surface lesion encountered in childhood. Further, a call to attention, that congenital oculodermal melanosis in childhood may harbor and coexist with an ocular morbid condition of glaucoma which develops in childhood. We report a case of congenital oculodermal melanosis with secondary open angle glaucoma in childhood. Special emphasis is placed on early identification and referral by non eye physicians. Accurate diagnosis and management of congenital oculodermal melanosis and the associated condition of secondary open angle glaucoma in childhood by the eye care physician is important. An understanding of the natural history of pigmented eye lesions in children by non eye physicians is essential for successful outcomes and prevention of uniocular blindness and its attendant consequences.

Keywords

• oculodermal melanocytosis; unilateral; secondary glaucoma; blindness