Tumor growth of a choroidal malignant melanoma and aqueous flare - Report of a case

We report the use of the laser flare-cell meter (LFCM) in monitoring blood- ocular barrier breakdown induced by a choroidal malignant melanoma in an 88 -year-old white male, who refused enucleation or radiation treatment. Durin g a follow-up of 16 months, aqueous flare values measured with the LFCM inc reased from 12.8 to 26.5 photon counts/ms with continuous tumor growth from a height of 7.9 to 18 mm. Our finding of increasing flare values with tumo r growth appears to confirm the observation that aqueous flare is influence d by the size of uveal malignant melanomas. Quantification of aqueous flare with the LFCM may be helpful in the follow-up of eyes with intraocular tum ors.