Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026

05:22
Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing
Published on: May 5, 2022
The concave iris in pigment dispersion syndrome
Lance Liu1, Ee Lin Ong, Jonathan Crowston
1Glaucoma Unit, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia. drlsliu@hotmail.com
Ophthalmology
|August 31, 2010
Summary
Iris contour changes in pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) were visualized. Fixation flattens the iris, blinking does not restore concavity, and accommodation induces it, suggesting accommodation maintains PDS iris curvature.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Anterior Segment Imaging
- Iris Biomechanics
Background:
- Pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) is characterized by iris abnormalities.
- Understanding iris dynamics in PDS is crucial for managing associated complications like glaucoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To visualize iris contour changes in PDS patients.
- To assess the impact of blinking, accommodation, and pharmacologic miosis on iris configuration using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).
Main Methods:
- Observational case series of 33 eyes from 20 PDS patients.
- AS-OCT (Visante) imaging along the 0- to 180-degree meridian.
- Scans performed at baseline and after fixation, blinking, accommodation, and pilocarpine-induced miosis.
Main Results:
- Iris became planar after 5 minutes of fixation (curvature decreased from 214 ± 74 μm to 67 ± 76 μm, P < 0.05).
- Iris remained planar after blinking; concavity did not significantly recover with -3.0 or -6.0 diopter lenses.
- Pilocarpine-induced miosis resulted in a planar iris configuration in all subjects.
Conclusions:
- The iris in PDS assumes a planar configuration during fixation.
- Iris concavity is not restored by blinking in PDS patients.
- Accommodation appears to induce and maintain iris concavity in PDS, suggesting a role in its pathogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
Anatomy of the Eyeball
The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...
Glaucoma: Overview
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems
Ophthalmic drug delivery faces major limitations due to poor absorption across the corneal membrane. This process is primarily driven by diffusion and is influenced by two main factors: the physicochemical properties of the drug and tear drainage. Most ophthalmic drugs, such as pilocarpine, epinephrine, atropine, and local anesthetics, are weak bases. They are typically formulated at an acidic pH to enhance chemical stability. However, this leads to high ionization, reducing their ability to...
Focusing of Light in the Eye
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...

