Fibrous tissue formation in connection with the foetal vascular system and visible vessels on the surface of the iris / by E. Treacher Collins.

Collins, E. Treacher (Edward Treacher), 1862-1937

Date:: [1913]

Credit: Fibrous tissue formation in connection with the foetal vascular system and visible vessels on the surface of the iris / by E. Treacher Collins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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$itlie iris. The membrane may partially covei* the pupil, • which is displaced towards the side on which it occurs ; 1 the part of the pupil which is uncovered may react ' vigorously. So far as I know the only case in literature is I one shown at the Ophthalniological Society by Mr. Sydney : Stephenson (5), who well describes the appearances as i follows : ' The impression conveyed to my mind is that it j|(the membrane) overlies the iris, and that if it could be ii removed iris tissue would be found behind it. A point in I favour of this assumption is that at the extreme periphery ; a narrow zone of what seems to be iris can be recognised.' .An exactly similar case was shown me once at Moorfields I by Mr. W. T. Holmes Spicer. I am quite familiar with the clinical appearances 1 described in .the above passage, but had never been able tto offer any adequate explanation to account for them. l^Coats's suggestion that there is a persistence and fibrous I thickening of the iridic portion of the lamina irido- ipupillaris I think must be correct. The best example of the condition which I have seen vwas a case shown before this Society by Marcus Gunn (6) 'n\ 1889, and published in its Transaciions with an excellent lillustration. In connection with Coats's theory, the case is of special interest in that, besides the membrane on the surface of tlie iris, there were other malformations attributable to ■atypical fibrous thickening of the foetal vascular system. Marcus Gunn's description of the appearance of the iris -is as follows : The iris of the left eye is of a dark brown colour similar to that of the right eye, but exhibits apparent separation between the sphincter portion and the ■outer two thirds. The sphincter part is altogether on a posterior level to the rest of the iris, especially below, where it is both deep and displaced downwards, so as to be here in great measure concealed by the outer part of 'lie iris. Doubtless there is a connection hidden from view, ])robably consisting of vertical or sloping bands of ;oniiective tissue, between the extreme outer part of the$