Aniridia, a genetic disorder, can cause blindness as well as metabolic illnesses, experts say.

How does aniridia affect sight?

Aniridia is an eye disorder characterized by a complete or partial absence of the colored part of the eye (the iris). These iris abnormalities may cause the pupils to be abnormal or misshapen. Aniridia can cause reduction in the sharpness of vision (visual acuity) and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).

Is aniridia a disability?

Aniridia-intellectual disability syndrome is an extremely rare autosomal dominant developmental defect of the eye described in several members of one family that is characterized by the association of moderate intellectual disability with aniridia, lens dislocation, optic nerve hypoplasia (see this term) and cataracts.