Primary melanoma of the optic nerve is rare. Limited reports in the literature have been the subject of considerable controversy, as many of these melanomas have later been found to be metastatic disease or local extensions of a juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma. Moreover, these have often been reported in patients with a history of ocular or oculocutaneous pigmentary disorders. The authors present a case of primary melanoma of the optic nerve in a patient with no history of pigmentary disorder and 16 years of follow up.