Congenital aniridia: a histopathologic study of the anterior segment in children.

Seven eyes from seven children with congenital aniridia were studied histologically in order to assess the relationship between congenital and acquired abnormalities. At the time of enucleation the children ranged in age from six days to 14 years. There was no history of previous intraocular surgery in any of the children. Besides iridic and ciliary body hypoplasia three congenital abnormalities of the anterior segment were noted: anomalous development of the anterior chamber angle, incomplete cleavage of the anterior chamber angle, and attenuation of Bowman's membrane. Three acquired abnormalities of the anterior segment were identified: corneal pannus, peripheral anterior synechiae, and lenticular degeneration. The two cases showing anomalous development of the anterior chamber angle occurred in children with a partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 11.