Optic disc melanocytoma is a deeply pigmented variant of benign melanocytic nevus thathas been confused with malignant melanoma. Optic disc melanocytomas are locally invasivebut are not known to undergo transformation into malignant melanoma. We present anunusual case of a melanocytoma of the optic disc that is a coincidental fi nding on routinefundus examination even though the size of the melanocytoma is quiet large around 2.5 DD(3.7 mm) in size (while usually mean tumour diameter is 2 mm only) Follow up should remainthe primary approach in the management of the patients with optic nerve melanocytomasas they are benign, as previously advocated by Zimmerman. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i5.11560 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(5) 2015 78-81

In the developing countries, incidence of systemic tuberculosis is very high, with over 8 million new cases each year. The incidence of tuberculous uveitis is also rising correspondingly. It is difficult to diagnose ocular tuberculosis because of the lack of specific ocular findings and specific confirmatory laboratory tests. However, in a developing country like India, where the prevalence of latent tuberculosis is high, uveitis of unexplained cause not fitting into known uveitis entities, in presence of Monteux positivity, is more likely to be tubercular in origin. Hence, early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antitubercular treatment may result in dramatic drop in recurrence and improve individual patient outcomes.

Epidemic dropsy is a multi-system disease involving the cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, ocular and other systems. Onset is usually subacute or insidious with watery diarrhea and vomiting. This lasts from a few days to more than a week. Bilaterally symmetrical pitting edema of the lower limbs extending from the ankles up to the scrotum and abdominal wall is a constant feature. It is a toxic disease caused by the unintentional ingestion of Argemone mexicana (prickly yellow poppy) seeds as an adulterant of wheat flour, or more commonly, of cooking oil such as mustard oil. Sanguinarine and dehydrosanguinarine are two major toxic alkaloids of Argemone oil. It is a rare phenomenon for practicing ophthalmologists to observe cases of epidemic dropsy, and the possibility of glaucoma should be kept in mind in cases of epidemic dropsy, when members of same family or village report with raised IOP, pedal edema and history of use of mustard oil for cooking or massage. Glaucoma is hypersecretory in nature; prostaglandin and histamine release may have significant roles in its pathogenesis. The disease has self limiting course but needs good control of intraocular pressure (IOP) medically till it returns to normal and visual field changes have stabilized. Its early diagnosis is very important to prevent grievous complications; hence, all cases should be followed up regularly for IOP measurement and visual field analysis up to 8-12 weeks, because, if ignored, optic atrophy may develop.

In the developing countries, incidence of systemic tuberculosis is very high, with over 8 million new cases each year. The incidence of tuberculous uveitis is also rising correspondingly. It is difficult to diagnose ocular tuberculosis because of the lack of specific ocular findings and specific confirmatory laboratory tests. However, in a developing country like India, where the prevalence of latent tuberculosis is high, uveitis of unexplained cause not fitting into known uveitis entities, in presence of Monteux positivity, is more likely to be tubercular in origin. Hence, early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antitubercular treatment may result in dramatic drop in recurrence and improve individual patient outcomes.

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