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Reviewed June 2009

What is aniridia?

Aniridia is an eye disorder characterized by a complete or partial absence of the colored part of the eye (the iris). These iris abnormalities may cause the pupils to be abnormal or misshapen. Aniridia can cause reduction in the sharpness of vision (visual acuity) and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).

People with aniridia can also have other eye problems. Increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma) typically appears in late childhood or early adolescence. Clouding of the lens of the eye (cataracts), occur in 50 percent to 85 percent of people with aniridia. In about 10 percent of affected people, the structures that carry information from the eyes to the brain (optic nerves) are underdeveloped. Individuals with aniridia may also have involuntary eye movements (nystagmus) or underdevelopment of the region at the back of the eye responsible for sharp central vision (foveal hypoplasia). Many of these eye problems contribute to progressive vision loss in affected individuals. The severity of symptoms is typically the same in both eyes.

Rarely, people with aniridia have behavioral problems, developmental delay, and problems detecting odors.

How common is aniridia?

Aniridia occurs in 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 newborns worldwide.

What genes are related to aniridia?

Aniridia is caused by mutations in the PAX6 gene. The PAX6 gene provides instructions for making a protein that is involved in the early development of the eyes, brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), and the pancreas. Within the brain, the PAX6 protein is involved in the development of a specialized group of brain cells that process smell (the olfactory bulb). The PAX6 protein attaches (binds) to specific regions of DNA and regulates the activity of other genes. On the basis of this role, the PAX6 protein is called a transcription factor. Following birth, the PAX6 protein regulates several genes that likely contribute to the maintenance of different eye structures.

Mutations in the PAX6 gene result in the production of a nonfunctional PAX6 protein that is unable to bind to DNA and regulate the activity of other genes. A lack of functional PAX6 protein disrupts the formation of the eyes during embryonic development.

Related Gene(s)

Changes in this gene are associated with aniridia.

  • PAX6

How do people inherit aniridia?


In approximately two-thirds of cases, an affected person inherits the mutation from one affected parent. The remaining one-third of cases result from new mutations in the gene and occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.

Where can I find information about diagnosis or management of aniridia?

These resources address the diagnosis or management of aniridia and may include treatment providers.

  • Gene Review: Aniridia (
  • Genetic Testing Registry: Congenital aniridia (

You might also find information on the diagnosis or management of aniridia in Educational resources and Patient support.



Where can I find additional information about aniridia?

You may find the following resources about aniridia helpful. These materials are written for the general public.


What other names do people use for aniridia?

  • absent iris
  • congenital aniridia
  • irideremia


What if I still have specific questions about aniridia?

Ask the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (

What glossary definitions help with understanding aniridia?

autosomal ; autosomal dominant ; cell ; central nervous system ; congenital ; developmental delay ; DNA ; embryonic ; gene ; glaucoma ; hypoplasia ; inherited ; involuntary ; mutation ; nervous system ; nystagmus ; olfactory bulb ; pancreas ; photophobia ; protein ; sensitivity ; transcription ; transcription factor ; visual acuity



  • Chao LY, Huff V, Strong LC, Saunders GF. Mutation in the PAX6 gene in twenty patients with aniridia. Hum Mutat. 2000;15(4):332-9. (
  • Lee H, Khan R, O'Keefe M. Aniridia: current pathology and management. Acta Ophthalmol. 2008 Nov;86(7):708-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.01427.x. Epub 2008 Oct 6. Review. (
  • Robinson DO, Howarth RJ, Williamson KA, van Heyningen V, Beal SJ, Crolla JA. Genetic analysis of chromosome 11p13 and the PAX6 gene in a series of 125 cases referred with aniridia. Am J Med Genet A. 2008 Mar 1;146A(5):558-69. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.32209. (



Reviewed: June 2009
Published: July 27, 2015