Nodules
Lisch nodules
Lisch nodules occur in patients with neurofibromatosis and are discussed in Chapter 28.
Juvenile xanthogranuloma
Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a nonneoplastic histiocytic proliferation that develops in infants younger than 2 years. It is characterized by the presence of Touton giant cells. Skin involvement—consisting of one or more small, round, orange or tan papules—is typically but not always present. Iris lesions are relatively rare and virtually always unilateral. The fleshy, yellow-brown masses may be small and localized or may diffusely infiltrate the entire iris, resulting in heterochromia. Spontaneous bleeding with hyphema is a characteristic clinical presentation. Secondary glaucoma may cause acute pain, photophobia, and vision loss. Those at greatest risk for ocular involvement are children with multiple skin lesions.
Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a self-limited condition that usually regresses spontaneously by age 5 years, but to avoid complications, treatment is indicated for ocular involvement. Topical corticosteroids and pharmacologic agents to lower intraocular pressure, given as necessary, are generally sufficient to control the problem. Surgical excision or radiation should be considered if intractable glaucoma is present.
Iris mammillations
Iris mammillations may be unilateral or bilateral. They appear as numerous tiny, diffuse, pigmented nodules on the surface of the iris (Fig 21-19). They are more common in darkly pigmented eyes and are usually the same color as the iris. These nodules may be bilateral, autosomal dominant, and isolated, or they may be associated with oculodermal melanocytosis or phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type IIb (nevus flammeus with persistent, aberrant mongolian spots). Iris mammillations have also been reported in cases of ciliary body tumor and choroidal melanoma. They must be differentiated from Lisch nodules; mammillations are usually dark brown, smooth, uniformly distributed, and equal in size or slightly larger near the pupil. The incidence of iris mammillations is higher among patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Brushfield spots
Focal areas of iris stromal hyperplasia surrounded by relative hypoplasia occur in up to 90% of patients with Down syndrome; in such patients, these areas are known as Brushfield spots. They are hypopigmented. Similar lesions, known as Wolfflin nodules, occur in up to 24% of healthy individuals. Neither condition is visually significant.
Cysts
Primary iris cysts
These cysts may originate from the iris pigment epithelium or the iris stroma.
Cysts of iris pigment epithelium
Spontaneous cysts of the iris pigment epithelium result from a separation of the 2 layers of epithelium anywhere between the pupil and ciliary body (Fig 21-20). These cysts tend to be stable and rarely cause ocular complications. They are usually not diagnosed until the teenaged years.
Central cysts
Pigment epithelial cysts at the pupillary border, also termed iris flocculi, are sometimes hereditary. In rare cases, they may be from an ACTA2 mutation (see the section “Congenital mydriasis”). They are usually diagnosed in infancy. The cysts may enlarge slowly but generally remain asymptomatic and rarely require treatment. Cholinesterase-inhibiting eyedrops such as echothiophate may produce similar pupillary cysts, especially in young phakic eyes. Discontinuation of the drug or concomitant administration of phenylephrine generally results in improvement.
Cysts of iris stroma
Primary iris stromal cysts are often diagnosed in infancy. They are most likely caused by sequestration of epithelium during embryologic development. The epithelium-lined stromal cysts usually contain goblet cells, and they may enlarge, causing obstruction of the visual axis, glaucoma, corneal decompensation, or iritis from cyst leakage.
Numerous treatments have been described, including cyst aspiration and photocoagulation or photodisruption, but the sudden release of cystic contents may result in transient iritis and glaucoma. Because of these potential complications and frequent cyst recurrence, surgical excision may be the preferred treatment method. Iris stromal cysts account for approximately 16% of childhood iris cysts. The visual prognosis is guarded.
Secondary iris cysts
Secondary iris cysts have been reported in childhood after trauma; they are also associated with tumors and iris nevi.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.