Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.
Uveal cysts are fluid-filled sacs that arise from the uveal tract, most commonly the iris or ciliary body. Many are benign and found incidentally during an eye exam. Some cysts can enlarge or shift and may cause glare, blurred vision, or elevated eye pressure if they crowd the drainage angle. Evaluation helps confirm the cyst type and rule out tumors that can look similar.
read more about uveal cysts ...Clinicians often classify uveal cysts by where they start and whether they are primary or secondary. Primary cysts arise from normal iris tissues, while secondary cysts may follow trauma, surgery, inflammation, medications, or implants. Location matters because angle or visual-axis involvement is more likely to cause symptoms.
Many uveal cysts cause no symptoms, especially when they are small and peripheral. Symptoms are more likely when a cyst affects the visual axis or pushes the iris forward. Complications can include secondary angle closure or elevated intraocular pressure in susceptible eyes.
Diagnosis starts with slit-lamp examination and a dilated eye exam to evaluate the iris, lens, and angle. Gonioscopy helps assess whether the cyst is narrowing the drainage angle. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography can measure size and confirm a cystic structure. Imaging also helps distinguish cysts from solid lesions that may require different management.
Stable, asymptomatic cysts are often observed with periodic exams and imaging. Treatment is considered when a cyst threatens vision, causes recurrent inflammation, or raises eye pressure by narrowing the angle. Options may include laser treatment, aspiration with or without sclerosing agents, or surgical excision in selected cases. Any associated glaucoma is treated using standard pressure-lowering therapies under specialist guidance.
Most uveal cysts are benign. The main reason for evaluation is to confirm the lesion is truly cystic and not a solid tumor that can look similar. Your clinician may use imaging to clarify this.
Yes, if the cyst pushes the iris forward and narrows or closes the drainage angle. This can lead to elevated intraocular pressure in some eyes. Monitoring includes angle assessment and pressure checks.
They are diagnosed with an eye exam plus imaging when needed. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography can confirm a fluid-filled structure and track size over time. Gonioscopy is used to assess angle involvement.
Treatment is usually reserved for cysts that cause symptoms, threaten the visual axis, trigger recurrent inflammation, or contribute to angle closure or high pressure. Many cysts remain stable and only require observation. Your clinician will recommend follow-up intervals based on location and risk.
Iris Cysts. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Iris_Cysts. Date Accessed: February 18, 2026.
Iris Cyst. StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574573/. Date Accessed: February 18, 2026.
Surgical Management of Post-Traumatic Iris Cyst: A Case Report. Mahjoub A, et al. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10073885/. Date Accessed: February 18, 2026.
Iris Cysts: Varied Presentations and Review of Literature. Dubey S, et al. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9266481/. Date Accessed: February 18, 2026.
Iris Implantation Cysts Growth Five Decades After Trauma. Englisch CN, et al. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12036079/. Date Accessed: February 18, 2026.