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Sectoral iris atrophy is a localized loss of iris tissue that creates a thin, patchy area of the colored part of the eye. It can appear as a transillumination defect when light shines from behind the iris. The change often follows inflammation or reduced blood flow to part of the iris. Vision impact depends on associated problems such as uveitis, elevated eye pressure, or pupil distortion.
read more about sectoral iris atrophy ...Sectoral iris atrophy often develops after episodes of anterior uveitis, especially viral uveitis linked with herpes simplex or varicella zoster. Inflammation can injure iris vessels and reduce blood flow, which leads to localized tissue loss. Marked spikes in eye pressure during uveitis can add stress to the iris and worsen damage. Trauma, prior eye surgery, and chronic scarring disorders can also trigger focal iris thinning. The pattern of atrophy and whether one eye is involved can help a clinician narrow down the most likely cause.
Some people notice no symptoms from the atrophy itself, and the finding shows up during a routine eye exam. Light sensitivity and glare can increase when the pupil becomes irregular or when more light leaks around the iris. An off-center or distorted pupil can occur if the iris muscle is damaged during inflammation. During active uveitis, pain, redness, and blurred vision can happen alongside the atrophy finding. Elevated eye pressure can also occur and can cause headache, halos around lights, or a sense of eye ache.
A slit-lamp exam is used to inspect the iris and to look for transillumination defects with retroillumination. The clinician also checks for signs of uveitis such as cells and flare in the anterior chamber. Eye pressure is measured because hypertensive uveitis is a common setting for sectoral atrophy. The cornea is examined for scarring or keratitis that can support a herpes-related cause. History of shingles, recurrent one-sided inflammation, or past trauma can guide the diagnosis and any targeted testing.
Treatment targets the cause rather than reversing the atrophy, since lost iris tissue does not regrow. When viral anterior uveitis is suspected, an eye doctor can prescribe antiviral medicine along with anti-inflammatory drops based on exam findings. If eye pressure rises, pressure-lowering drops are often used during flares and sometimes longer when pressure damage persists. Light sensitivity can be managed with tinted lenses, careful lighting choices, or pupil-control drops in select cases. Follow-up visits help track inflammation, eye pressure, and any complications that affect vision.
Yes, sectoral iris atrophy is a well-known finding in viral anterior uveitis, including herpes simplex and varicella zoster. Many cases involve one eye and can be paired with high eye pressure during flares.
Sectoral iris atrophy is usually permanent because it reflects tissue loss. Symptoms from active uveitis or high eye pressure can improve with treatment, even if the iris change remains.
It can. Damage to iris muscle or scarring from inflammation can pull the pupil off-center or create an irregular outline. An exam can also check for ongoing inflammation that needs treatment.
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Clinical features of acute anterior uveitis in zoster ophthalmicus. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10857838/. Date Accessed: February 4, 2026.