What is Iridology?

The eyes say it all. Until I learned about iridology, I did not realize how deep this belief was.

Iridology is an alternative medicine practice that studies the iris (the colored part of the eye) to derive information about a patient’s health. This practice is supported by the belief that each body region and organ has a corresponding location in the iris. An iridologist examines the iris and compares its marks and patterns to a chart that divides the iris into zones corresponding to zones in the body. The resulting diagnosis is an assessment of your overall health, your propensity towards certain illnesses, past medical problems, and predictions of developing health problems.

	Courses of action following an iridology analysis often include vitamins, herbs, and other homeopathic remedies.

What Happens in an Iridology Exam?

An iridologist’s exam is a safe and simple procedure. Many practitioners use only a small flashlight, magnifying glass, or slit-lamp microscopes (commonly used by ophthalmologists). To begin the exam, the iridologist often compares the color, layers, rings, and spots of your iris against an iridology map. Different colors or rings within the iris are believed to represent different facets of health and play a role in your overall diagnosis.

What are the Goals of Iridology?

An iridology diagnosis is not intended as treatment. Suggested courses of action following an iridology analysis often include vitamins, herbs, and other homeopathic remedies. Studies of iridology have reported incorrect diagnoses, leading to the possibility of potentially severe medical problems remaining undiagnosed. The problem with this is two-fold: patients may think they have a clean bill of health when in actuality they do not or patients may begin treatment for a misdiagnosed medical condition.

The Study of Iridology

The study of iridology isn’t taught in medical schools but rather in private institutions through certification courses that are not licensed or regulated by any government agency. Iridology is not supported by any published study and is considered pseudoscience by most practitioners of mainstream medicine because clinical data does not support any correlation between illness in the body and visible changes in the iris. In addition, there is a lot of data stating that the iris does not change color much after the first year of life.

More Information on Iridology

If you are interested in learning more about iridology and whether it is right for you, talk to your doctor and check out the International Iridology Practitioners Association Web site at www.iridologyassn.org. The association was founded “for the purpose of increasing and diffusing knowledge concerning the art and science of iridology and to provide a forum for the exchange of information and research with the goal of promoting excellence in international iridology standards.”