Progressive bilateral essential iris atrophy

A case of bilateral progressive essential iris atrophy, more advanced in one eye than the other, has been studied. Histopathologic examination of the iris from the eye with the more advanced iris atrophy failed to find any vascular abnormalities in that the vessels were patent and appeared normal except for accumulated perivascular connective tissue. Fluorescein angiographic examination of the right eye which was undergoing the earliest changes of iris atrophy failed to show any vascular abnormalities. However, tonographic examination indicated a markedly decreased outflow facility. There does not appear to be any vascular abnormality involved in the pathogenesis of this case.