The patient aged 75 years presents since her youth, in the left eye, ocular 
melanosis with abnormal pigmentation of the sclerotic, hyperpigmentation of the 
iris and abnormal pigmentation of the fundus oculi. Six months ago, she noticed 
that she is not able to see with this eye, and the fundus oculi examination 
emphasizes a malignant choroidal melanoma, with a fixed detachment of the 
retina. The authors show that the denomination Bourquin's benign ocular 
melanosis, under which the affection is known, is improper, as 10% of the cases 
of ocular melanosis degenerate into melanosarcomas. The term melanosis oculi is 
the most adequate one.