The iris vessels in the exfoliation syndrome: ultrastructural changes.

The ultrastructure of iris vessels in exfoliation syndrome has been investigated. Deposits of exfoliation material have been found in the vessel walls. There is evidence of different stages of pathological alterations of some vessels, culminating in the loss of endothelial cells and obliteration of the lumen associated with exfoliative deposits. These findings correlate with fluorescein angiographic alterations of the iris and stress the importance of vascular changes in this syndrome.