The pattern of ocular malignant tumors in institutes of western Nepal was analyzed by a retrospective study of 277 ocular cases from 2000 to 2007 carried out through clinical examinations and histopathological confirmations. The cases other than ocular malignancy were excluded. A total of 59 ocular malignant tumors were encountered. Male and female cases were 45.8% and 54.2% respectively. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed as the most common (66.1%), followed by basal cell carcinoma (10.2%), meibomian gland carcinoma (10.2%), retinoblastoma (7%), malignant melanoma (5.1%) and 1.7% lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma was found to be the most common tumor (65%) among the elderly persons (> 40 years of age) with females presenting at relatively earlier average age to males. Among the cases below 15 years of age, retinoblastoma was the commonest tumor (57%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (43%).

Various tissues of visual system contribute to lesions from inflammation to different types of neoplastic conditions. Ocular malignant tumors are relatively rare compared to other eye lesions, require immediate diagnosis and management. But ignorant care due to unawareness of persons can result into debility, loss of vision, and occasionally life is jeopardized. Malignant tumors of eyelid, conjunctiva, retina and orbit in both adults and children have been reported1. However, there exists a variation in pattern and frequency on the basis of geographical locations2, 3, 4, 5. Retinoblastoma in children and basal cell carcinoma in adults were the commonest findings in a study conducted in eastern Nepal2. Many patients visit the Lumbini Eye Institute, and Universal College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UCMSTH), Bhairahwa, Nepal, for their treatment of ocular complaints. However, ocular malignant tumors have not been reported so far from this part of Nepal. During literature survey, we found only one such report from this country. Hence, we designed a retrospective study to analyze the above on the basis of histopathological diagnosis by retrieving the hospital based data of the patients.