Iris depigmentation: an unusual complication of intralesional corticosteroid injection for capillary hemangioma

Intralesional injection of corticosteroids has been used successfully in the treatment of adenexal hemangiomas, with advantages of easy administration, rapid action, repeatability, efficacy and safety. We report a case of an eight-month-old female infant who underwent intralesional corticosteroid injection for capillary hemangioma that had resulted in amblyopia of her left eye from ptosis. Two weeks after the injection, the hemangioma showed some regression but at that point iris depigmentation of the affected eye was noted. The iris depigmentation remained unchanged during her follow-up visit with significant regression of the hemangioma, associated ptosis and astigmatism.