Fuch's heterochromic iridocyclitis: an electron microscopic study of the iris

Fuch's iridocyclitis is a chronic disease manifested by unilateral low-grade uveitis, iris heterochromia, cataract, and occasional glaucoma. Up to now, the etiology of this syndrome has remained obscure. The irides of two patients with Fuch's heterochromic iridocyclitis were investigated by electron microscopy. The main findings were abnormal melanocytes with relatively few, small, and at times immature melanin granules, abundance of plasma cells, and membranous degeneration of nerve fibers. The defective melanin production may be due to abnormal adrenergic innervation, either primary or secondary to the inflammatory process. The cause for this inflammatory reaction was not evident in this study.