Iris arteriovenous communication: clinical and angiographic features

Iris arteriovenous communication (IAVC) represents a quite rare congenital anomaly, consisting of abnormal vascular connection bypassing the iris capillary bed. The aim of the present study is to describe clinical and angiographic pattern of IAVC on iris fluorescein angiography (IFA) and on indocyanine green videoangiography (IICGV).

During a mean follow-up period of 33.5 months, eight patients affected by IAVC underwent at least three ophthalmological examinations completed by IFA and IICGV.

IFA allows the detection of IAVC vascular structures, evidencing afferent and efferent branches, which show a rapid filling, without any evidence of leakage or iris hypoperfusion. IICGV shows more precisely the entire vascular pattern of IAVC, revealing also the presence of iris hypoperfusion in the sector in which the IAVC lay. One patient underwent cataract surgery; three months later, two neovascular tufts appeared in the hypoperfused area related to IAVC. In all other patients, periodical examinations did not reveal any clinical or angiographic changes.

In IAVC, the clinical picture appears stable throughout the follow-up; both angiographic techniques seem able to precisely delineate the vascular pattern. Nevertheless, IICGV is superior in showing iris hypoperfusion surrounding the vascular abnormality. Particular care must be drawn to patients affected by IAVC who need cataract surgery.