The Brain and Spine Institute is made up of experts in the field of neuroscience in order to bring patients the best healthcare in East Tennessee for a full range of neurological diseases and disorders.
myClipboard
myClipboard
Save news, events, articles and doctor's information to your personal clipboard for later reference.
Add items by clicking the 
button.
Create an account
Centers of Excellence
-
-
We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
-
The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
-
Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
-
The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
Share
Print
Related Media
Coloboma of the iris
Definition
Coloboma of the iris is a hole or defect of the iris of the eye. Most colobomas are present since birth (congenital).
Considerations
Coloboma of the iris may look like a black, round hole located in or next to the colored part of the eye (iris). It can look like a black notch of different depths at the edge of the pupil. This gives the pupil an irregular shape. It can also appear as a split in the iris from the pupil to the edge of the iris.
A small coloboma (especially if it is not attached to the pupil) may allow a second image to focus on the back of the eye, causing:
- Blurred vision
- Ghost image
The defect may include the retina, choroid, or optic nerve.
Colobomas are generally diagnosed at, or shortly after, birth.
Common Causes
Coloboma can occur due to:
- Eye surgery
- Inherited conditions
- Trauma to the eye
Most cases of coloboma have no known cause and are not related to other abnormalities. A small percentage of people with coloboma have other inherited developmental problems.
Call your health care provider if
Contact your health care provider if:
- You notice that your child has what appears to be a hole in the iris or an unusual-shaped pupil.
- Your child's vision becomes blurred or decreased.
Note: It is appropriate to see an ophthalmologist for vision problems. Your primary health care provider may need to help rule out disorders associated with coloboma of the iris.
What to expect at your health care provider's office
Your health care provider will take a medical history and do an examination.
The patient is usually an infant, and the family history will be most important.
The physical examination will include a detailed eye examination, which may involve:
- Dilated exam
- MRI imaging of the brain and nerves connecting the eye to the brain
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to a coloboma to your personal medical record.
References
Olitsky SE, Hug D, Smith LP. Abnormalities of pupil and iris. In: Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 621.
Guercio JR, Martyn LJ. Congenital malformations of the eye and orbit. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 2007;40:113-140.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).