We conducted a case-control intervie» study among 1277 subjects(407 patients, 870 controls selected by using random digit dial) in 11 western United States to determine whether uveal melanoma and cuta neous melanoma shared common risk factors. After adjustment for other factors, the risk of uveal melanoma »asincreased for those with green, gray, or hazel eyes (relative risk (RR) = 2.5, P < 0.001] or blue eyes (RR = 2.2, /' < 0.001) when compared to brown. A tendency to sunburn after0.5 h midday summer sun exposure increased risk for uveal melanoma (burn with tanning RR = 1.5, P = 0.02; burn with little tanning RR = 1.8, P < 0.001; burn with no tanning RR = 1.7, P = 0.002); as did exposure to UV or black lights (RR = 3.7, P= 0.003); and »elding burn, sunburn of the eye, or snow blindness (RR = 7.2, P < 0.001). An association with uveal melanoma »as also noted »ith an increasing number of large nevi (/' = 0.04 for trend), although the individual riskestimates were not remarkable. These data suggest that host factors and exposure to UV light are risk factors for uveal melanoma.