Aniridia

Aniridia is a rare genetic condition, which means it is caused by a mutation, or fault, in a gene.

The word “aniridia” means “no iris”, but the amount of iris tissue missing varies from person to person. People with aniridia will often have very large pupils (the hole in the middle of each iris) which therefore, may also have an irregular shape as so much of their iris tissue is missing. Some people with aniridia may have a more regular looking iris and changes are only visible to an eye specialist.

Most people with aniridia have a central part of their retina that is not fully developed, and many have nystagmus, a constant and involuntary movement of the eyes. Aniridia affects both eyes and it is a condition which you’re born with. The iris cannot control the amount of light entering the eyes. This can cause difficulty adjusting as light levels change, reducing vision and causing headaches.

For more information about Anirida on the RNIB website.