Appearance of Schnabel's Cavernous Degeneration of the Optic Nerve: Four Weeks Before Enucleation for Melanoma

A 92-year-old woman had her right eye removed for a submacular choroidal melanoma. Four weeks before surgery her vision was counting fingers and intraocular pressure 17 mm Hg. The tumor measured 14.6×9.6 mm and was 4.4 mm thick. The nasal portion of the optic disc was visible and interpreted as normal (Fig A). In the laboratory, the eye was opened horizontally. Histologically, cavernous degeneration of the optic nerve was located nasally (N) opposite the melanoma (Figs B and C). Pial septi were widely dilated.