Fluorescein iris angiography. I. Normal pattern
S. S. Hayreh and W. E. Scott
Fluorescein iris angiography was performed in 42 normal blue or green human
eyes to investigate the normal angiographic pattern and in vivo circulation
of the iris. Brown irides were unsuitable for the angiography because the
brown pigment masked fluorescence. The pattern in the iris was much more
complex than in the retina when seen on fluorescein angiography, with
interindividual variations in its filling, and these physiological
variations may erroneously be considered pathological. Radial arteries of
the iris filled rather sluggishly and the circulation in the pupillary and
peripupillary region was often much slower than in the peripheral part of
the iris. Various segments of the iris usually filled in an irregular
order. There was no distinct venous phase, but it merged with the
arteriovenous phase. The pupillary region of the iris between the
collarette (which contained a fragmented and incomplete minor circle of
vessels) and the pupillary margin contained a dense plexus of capillaries.
The normal vessels usually showed no fluorescein leakage.
