CONGENITAL INTRASTROMAL EPITHELIAL CYST OF THE IRIS

An 18-month-old boy presented with a six-month history of irritation O D. Examination under anesthesia found a 7mm cyst involving the inferio r aspect of the iris OD. There was elevated intraocular pressure, mark ed injection of the episclera and conjunctiva, and shallowing of the a nterior chamber. The cyst was excised. Microscopic examination detecte d compression of the iris stroma that was caused by an intrastromal cy st lined with nonkeratinizing epithelium-forming two layers. Most cyst ic lesions of the iris that arise during the neonatal period result fr om separation of the epithelial layers of the iris. In this case, in t he absence of trauma, the cyst appeared to have resulted from a develo pmental inclusion of conjunctival epithelium into the iris stroma.