European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Iridology is defined as a photographic science that identifies pathological and functional changes within organs via biomicroscopic iris assessment for aberrant lines, spots, and discolourations. According to iridology, the iris does not reflect changes during anaesthesia, due to the drugs inhibitory effects on nerves impulses, and in cases of organ removal, it reflects the pre-surgical condition. The profession of Homoeopathy is frequently associated with iridology and in a recent survey (2009) investigating the perceptions of Masters of Technology graduates in Homoeopathy of University of Johannesburg, iridology was highly regarded as a potential additional skill requirement for assessing the health status of the patient. It is also known as iridodiagnosis or iridiagnosisis an alternative medicinetechnique whose proponents claim that patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iriscan be examined to determine information about a patient's systemichealth. It is an analysis of health based on examination of the iris of the eye. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts, which divide the iris into zones that correspond to specific parts of the human body. Iridologists see the eyes as "windows" into the body's state of health.Iridologists claim they can use the charts to distinguish between healthy systems and organs in the body and those that are overactive, inflamed, or distressed. Iridologists claim this information demonstrates a patient's susceptibility towards certain illnesses, reflects past medical problems, or predicts later health problems.