Clinical Features of Iris Cysts in Long-Term Follow-Up

This study evaluated the characteristics and clinical course of patients with iris cysts in the long-term follow-up (24-48 months). We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 39 patients with iris cysts (27 women and 12 men). Age, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp evaluation, and ultrasound biomicroscopy images were assessed. The mean age at diagnosis was 40.6 ± 17.48 years. Thirty (76.9%) cysts were peripheral, five (12.8%) were located at the pupillary margin, two (5.1%) were midzonal, and two (5.1%) were multichamber cysts extending from the periphery to the pupillary margin. A total of 23 (59%) cysts were in the lower temporal quadrant, 11 (28.2%) were in the lower nasal quadrant, and 5 (12.8%) were in the upper nasal quadrant. Cyst size was positively correlated with patient age (rs = 0.38, p = 0.003) and negatively correlated with visual acuity (rs = -0.42, p = 0.014). Cyst growth was not observed. The only complication was an increase in IOP in three (7.7%) patients with multiple cysts. The anatomical location of the cysts cannot differentiate them from solid tumors. The vast majority of cysts are asymptomatic, do not increase in size, and do not require treatment during long-term follow-up.