Histopathological features of lepromatous iridocyclitis; a case report.

A peripheral iridectomy specimen which included a portion of the ciliary body from an advanced lepromatous leprosy patient was studied histopathologically. The lepromatous granuloma in the iris was similar in content and appearance to that of skin lesions. It appeared that even in this advanced lepromatous patient the dilator muscles of the iris were preserved. This study agrees with the earlier observation that the dysfunction of the iris in lepromatous disease is most probably the result of autonomic nerve destruction. Further, it is possible that the lepromatous involvement of the iris may reflect the histopathological changes in the ciliary body.