Lisch nodule overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Swathi Venkatesan, M.B.B.S.[2]
Overview
A Lisch nodule is a hamartoma (a type of benign tumor) affecting the iris. These nodules are typically found in neurofibromatosis type 1. They are clear yellow to brown, dome-shaped elevations that project from the surface of the iris. Lisch nodules are theorized to arise from mast cells, pigmented cells and fibroblast-like cells. In 80% of eyes, Lisch nodules may be found in the inferior quadrants of the iris and this may be related to greater sun exposure, one of the postulated factors in the development of these benign tumefactions. They can be detected by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist using a slit lamp. These nodules do not affect vision. They were named after Austrian ophthalmologist Karl Lisch (1907-1999), who published an article about them in 1937.