DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ocular melanoma

  • Stage IV disease
• Measurable disease

• No evidence of active brain metastases

  • Prior brain metastases treated with complete excision or radiotherapy allowed provided disease remains asymptomatic and stable for ≥ 6 months by MRI of the brain

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• More than 3 months

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count > 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• ALT and AST < 10 times upper limit of normal

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
• No history of unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

Pulmonary

• No chronic obstructive lung disease requiring oxygen therapy

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 2 forms of effective contraception 1 month prior to, during, and for 1 month after completion of study treatment
• No known HIV positivity
• No known hypersensitivity reaction to thalidomide
• No uncontrolled seizure activity
• No serious untreated infection
• No other acute or critical illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• No prior lenalidomide

Chemotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin, nitrosoureas, or carboplatin)

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery

Other

• Recovered from all prior therapy
• No other concurrent antitumor therapy