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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
05:22
Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing
Published on: May 5, 2022
Looking for gall bladder disease in the patient's iris
1Department of Epidemiology and Health Care Research, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|December 17, 1988
Summary
Iridology, an alternative diagnostic method, was evaluated for diagnosing gall bladder disease. The study found iridology
Area of Science:
- Alternative medicine
- Ophthalmology
- Diagnostic methods
Background:
- Iridology is utilized in alternative healthcare as a diagnostic tool.
- Specific iris signs are believed to indicate gall bladder disease, including inflammation and gallstones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic validity of iridology for gall bladder disease.
- To evaluate the inter-performer consistency among iridologists in diagnosing this condition.
Main Methods:
- Stereo color slides of the right eye were collected from 39 patients with gall bladder disease and 39 age- and sex-matched controls.
- Five leading iridologists assessed the slides in random order, without additional patient information.
Main Results:
- The estimated prevalence of gall bladder disease was 56%.
- Median validity was 51% (sensitivity 54%, specificity 52%), which is comparable to chance.
- Inter-performer consistency was moderate at 60%, also only slightly better than chance.
Conclusions:
- Iridology demonstrated low diagnostic validity and only slightly better-than-chance consistency among practitioners.
- The findings suggest iridology is not a reliable diagnostic aid for gall bladder disease.
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