Intraorbital melanosis and intracranial neuroepithelioma of the optic nerve.

H. A. N., a 21 month old, irritable Armenian girl, was admitted to the service of Dr. A. B. Reese in the Institute of Ophthalmology in November 1943, with the history of an inflamed right eye for one month. The past history was irrelevant except for chickenpox at the age of 7 months and rubella at the age of 16 months. Examination, with the patient under ether anesthesia, showed a normal left eye. The right eye was enlarged and congested, with clear media, increased intraocular pressure (60 mm. Schiotz) and extremely deep cupping of the optic nerve head (bottom of excavation seen with —15 D. of the ophthalmoscope). In January 1944 iridencleisis with anterior sclerectomy was performed. Although the intraocular pressure became normal, the surgical procedure was followed by recurring intraocular hemorrhages, the development of a grayish white mass behind the lens and the loss of the reddish fundus reflex.