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Updated: May 13, 2026

Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty in Eyes with Glaucoma
Published on: January 26, 2018
Successful argon and diode laser photocoagulation treatment of an iris varix with recurrent hemorrhage
Juliane Matlach1, Karsten Kasper, Berit Kasper
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, Wuerzburg, Germany. j.matlach@augenklinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Purpose:
To report successful laser treatment of an iris varix.
Methods:
A 66-year-old man presented with an incidental finding of a cystic lesion within the iris stroma in his right eye. He developed a blood-filled and partly thrombosed tumor of the iris stroma and complained about blurred vision due to spontaneous hyphema during follow-up.
Results:
Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a prominent and liquid-filled lesion within the iris stroma. Iris fluorescein angiography revealed a thrombosed iris tumor without intrinsic vascularization or feeding vessels. Therefore, diagnosis of an iris varix was made clinically. Recurrent bleeding occurred during follow-up and led to decreased visual acuity. Combined argon and diode laser photocoagulation was successful in terminating rebleeding and resulted in a scarred iris varix.
Conclusions:
Symptomatic iris varices can be treated safely by combined argon and diode laser photocoagulation, facilitating a less invasive approach than surgical excision.
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