Iris Cyst

This infant had a normal physical exam at birth. By about 20 hours of life, there was a reddish/blue discoloration of the eyelid and redness in the left eye, the sclera was markedly injected, there was a small amount of discharge in the upper lashes, and the retinal light reflex was not visible. With careful inspection, a reddish discoloration over the iris (which gives the normally bluish iris a brown tint), and an opacity within the pupil can be seen. These findings were believed to be due to an iris cyst, an extremely rare finding. Interestingly, the cyst spontaneously resoved over a few months.

photo by Janelle Aby, MD