Is scleral melanocytosis common?
Scleral melanocytosis is a common pediatric condition that becomes prominent with increasing age and usually is bilateral. The benign condition is more common in persons of Asian descent.
Does scleral melanocytosis go away?
According to Henkind and Friedman,1 scleral melanocytosis is often bilateral, present from birth or childhood, and is a life-long condition.
What is scleral melanocytosis?
Scleral melanocytosis is a congenital melanocytic hyperpigmentation of the sclera that is more commonly seen in the Asian population. Scleral melanocytosis often presents as bilateral spots of black or gray-blue pigmentation in the sclerae; the conjunctivae can be moved over the pigmented spots.
How is scleral melanocytosis treated?
Therapeutic Principles. 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 causes thinning of the sclera?
Scleral thinning can result after excessive use of cautery in the scleral bed or overuse of antimetabolites. Prolonged irradiation, transscleral diode laser cycloablation, strabismus surgery and deep sclerectomy procedures can also predispose the sclera to thinning.
What causes pigmentation of sclera?
Results: Pigmented lesions of the conjunctiva and sclera arise from either melanocytes or nonmelanocytes and have a diverse differential diagnosis. These lesions can be classified into congenital melanosis, conjunctival nevi, acquired melanosis (secondary or primary), and conjunctival melanomas.
How do you remove nevus of Ota?
Pulsed Q-switched lasers have been found to be effective at treating nevus of Ota. These lasers target the melanocytes and destroy the pigmentation….These treatments include:
- Cryotherapy.
- Lasers.
- Surgery to remove the lesions.
- Dermabrasion.
- Chemical peels.
- Topical hydroquinone-based bleaching agents
How do you fix scleral thinning?
Topical antimetabolites such as mitomycin-C or triethylene thiophosphamide have been routinely used as an adjunctive therapy after pterygium removal surgery to decrease the likelihood of recurrency.
Is scleral thinning normal?
As we age, the sclera can become thin to the point that you can see the deeper choroid layer. This scleral thinning is of no negative consequence to the eye or vision . There are other types of scleral thinning associated with arthritic-like conditions, but this is not that type.
Can you have scleral icterus without jaundice?
The most common cause of scleral icterus in infants is the physiologic jaundice of the newborn, while in adults scleral icterus is most commonly caused due to obstruction of the bile flow, either from a gallstone, malignancies, or liver dysfunction.
Does nevus of Ota go away?
Treatment of Nevus of Ota. 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 does scleral melanocytosis look like?
Scleral melanocytosis often presents as bilateral spots of black or gray-blue pigmentation in the sclerae; the conjunctivae can be moved over the pigmented spots. Histologically, bipolar or multipolar dendritic melanocytes are found in the sclera and episclera, rather than in the conjunctival substantia propria. 1.
Does scleral melanocytosis increase the risk of melanoma?
Although the condition itself is benign, individuals with it have a higher incidence of glaucoma and are at a higher risk for melanoma. Slate-gray patches caused by scleral melanocytosis are especially common in African-American and Asian children.
What is the meaning of ocular melanocytosis?
Ocular melanocytosis is a congenital condition that manifests as slate-gray or bluish patchiness on the sclera, the white portion of the eye, explains the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Although the condition itself is benign, individuals with it have a higher incidence of glaucoma and are at a higher risk for melanoma.
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.