Visual function following enucleation or episcleral plaque radiotherapy for posterior uveal melanoma
J. J. Augsburger and S. D. Goel
Oncology Unit, Wills Eye Hospital, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa.
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.
