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. During a follow-up of 16 months, aqueous flare values measured with the LFCM increased 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 tumor growth appears to confirm the observation that aqueous flare is influenced 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 tumors.