Is a Dark Iris Cause for Concern?
AUG 31, 2015
Question:
Do you know of any eye conditions which result in very dark iris? My young baby has dark eyes so that you can barely distinguish between the pupil and iris. I understand a build-up in CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) can result in the eyes looking darker. Are there other causes?
Answer:
A dark iris can certainly be normal if this run in the family. The main cause for concern is to rule out a condition known as aniridia. This condition causes lack of iris development and the iris looks dark when actually it is very small or nonexistent. This gives a dark appearance to the eyes because the darkness is actually the space that would normally be the pupil. With no iris tissue, the pupil fills the entire iris space. See a pediatric eye doctor as this can be diagnosed easily.