Iris coloboma
Have you heard of coloboma?
Take a look at this poster to raise awareness of coloboma and learn a little while you’re here!
This year, Emily K. Paul, founder of Human Touch Illustration, won gold in the Institute of Medical Illustrator awards for a poster on eye anatomy and iris coloboma. The poster was inspired by a friend of hers who had a baby who was born with the condition. Hoping to raise awareness, Emily created an anatomically accurate 3D model of the eye (available to view on Sketchfab) and took beautiful renders to make the poster. Take a look at some of our 3D models here and move of our visual design here.
Some more information…
By the eighth week of pregnancy, the eyes of the fetus have developed by folding around to form the structure. These folds should mesh together at the bottom, starting posteriorly and ending at the pupil. This process forms the embryonic fissure. In around 1 in 10,000 pregnancies, this does not complete which leads to tissue missing from the eye. This is called a coloboma. It can be unilateral or bilateral and can affect each eye differently. The coloboma can be large, affecting many structures in the eye but if most of the fissure closes, the coloboma will only affect the iris.
Iris coloboma may make the pupil look oval or keyhole-shaped. Those with iris coloboma generally have good vision but the condition causes photophobia. This symptom is particularly severe in bright conditions. In a normal eye, the iris muscles contract and relax to change the size of the pupil. This action controls the quantity of light entering the eye, but in this condition, less pupillary constriction is achieved. Consequently, more light falls on the photoreceptors of the retina. This leads to photosensitivity and the glare that results can affect the quality of vision.
Take a look at the Fight for Sight website and the MACS (Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia & Coloboma Support) website for more information on the condition and for ways to help.
If you would like to commission any medical or scientific art by Emily then get in touch by email humantouchillustration@gmail.com or use our contact form.
