[Congenital aniridia - Hungarian data of a spectrum disease]

Congenital aniridia is a rare disease, characterised by the complete or partial absence of the iris, but lesions may be present in all structures of the eye.

To determine the prevalence of ocular diseases in congenital aniridia by analyzing patients from a Hungarian centre.

Patients at the Department of Ophthalmology of Semmelweis University, examined between October 2005 and May 2022, have been included. After taking the patients' medical history, a detailed ophthalmological examination has been performed.

Of the 82 patients in the database, 33 (age 25.69 ± 17.49 [5-59] years, 17 females [51.51%]) presented for examination and 65 eyes were examined. Nystagmus was found in 45 eyes of 23 patients (69.23%), and the patients' uncorrected distance visual acuity was 0.14 ± 0.128 (0.9 logMAR; 0.63-0.005). The aniridia-associated keratopathy was Grade 0 in 8 eyes (12.3%), Grade 1 in 10 eyes (15.38%), Grade 2 in 16 eyes (24.62%), Grade 3 in 4 eyes (6.15%) and Grade 4 in 25 eyes (38.46%). 30 eyes (46.15%) of 15 patients had secondary glaucoma, 6 eyes (9.2%) of 3 patients were glaucoma suspect. 8 eyes (12.3%) had a clear lens, 44 eyes (67.69%) had cataract, of which 22 (33.84%) were anterior cortical polar cataracts. 13 eyes (20%) were pseudophakic (PCL) and 7 eyes (10.77%) had lens dislocation or zonular insufficiency. Macular hypoplasia was found in 6 eyes of 3 patients (4.6%) and optic nerve head malformation in 2 eyes of 1 patient (3.03%).

The ocular signs of congenital aniridia are aniridia-associated keratopathy, secondary glaucoma, cataract, macular and optic nerve head hypoplasia. Systematic collaboration of different ophthalmological specialties is required for the management and care of all these ocular abnormalities. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(4): 148-155.