A groundbreaking discovery may be about to change how we see glaucoma, forever.
In this captivating journey, Carolyn Aitken takes readers to the very frontier of iris analysis. Blending meticulous research with decades of hands-on experience, she reveals how the iris, with its intricate fibres, subtle colours, and unique patterns may hold vital clues to our wellbeing, including early warning signs of serious conditions like glaucoma.
At the heart of this work is a pioneering glaucoma study that could reshape our understanding of ocular health. With clear explanations, compelling case studies, and a bold exploration of new evidence, this book invites iridologists, ophthalmologists, researchers, and the curious to witness a potential breakthrough in preventative care.
Whether you are a healthcare professional, a student, or a reader fascinated by the secrets of the human body, this is more than a book: it is an invitation to look deeper, see differently, and perhaps, to discover the future of health through the iris itself.
Carolyn is an iridologist and optician based in Helensburgh, Scotland.
Her innovative research in connection to her local study, involving participants with glaucoma launched in 2025, has culminated in a submitted scientific article.
A groundbreaking discovery may be about to change how we see glaucoma, forever.
In this captivating journey, Carolyn Aitken takes readers to the very frontier of iris analysis. Blending meticulous research with decades of hands-on experience, she reveals how the iris, with its intricate fibres, subtle colours, and unique patterns may hold vital clues to our wellbeing, including early warning signs of serious conditions like glaucoma.
At the heart of this work is a pioneering glaucoma study that could reshape our understanding of ocular health. With clear explanations, compelling case studies, and a bold exploration of new evidence, this book invites iridologists, ophthalmologists, researchers, and the curious to witness a potential breakthrough in preventative care.
Whether you are a healthcare professional, a student, or a reader fascinated by the secrets of the human body, this is more than a book: it is an invitation to look deeper, see differently, and perhaps, to discover the future of health through the iris itself.
Carolyn is an iridologist and optician based in Helensburgh, Scotland.
Her innovative research in connection to her local study, involving participants with glaucoma launched in 2025, has culminated in a submitted scientific article.
While little has dramatically changed in the field of optometry, iridology has experienced significant evolution and renewed interest.
My fascination with iridology began early on. During my optometry studies, I read a few books on the subject purely out of curiosity. But it wasnât until I worked across various European countries as an optician and as a trainer for pre-registration students that I discovered iridology was integrated into medical and optical science studies in other parts of the world.
Iridology, like many ancient practices, was used successfully for centuries but is only now being re-evaluated and better understood. Not because iridology itself has changed, but because we have changed. Our thinking has become more open, more willing to acknowledge the value of something even if we donât fully understand the mechanisms behind it.
With advancements in our understanding of the bodyâs energy systems, meridians, and nervous system, weâve come to appreciate the body as a far more interconnected and intelligent system. Though modern iridology, in the form we use today, has only existed for a relatively short time, the integration of digital photography has made it easier than ever to observe and study the intricate details of the iris. Its simplicity, non-invasive nature and visual precision have propelled it to the forefront of natural health assessment.
As you read this book, I invite you to view the human body as a unified whole, made up of many interconnected parts. In iridology, we donât isolate symptoms, instead we search for patterns and connections. Our goal is not to label a disease, but to understand its root cause and how it might be corrected.
Nearly two centuries ago, physicians began to recognise the diagnostic potential of the eyes. Their early focus was on the retina (the back of the eye) which today remains a powerful diagnostic tool through technologies like fundus photography and OCT scans. However, as research progressed, attention turned to the rest of the eye. Observers began to notice patterns in the blood vessels on the white of the eyes, and structures in the iris itself. These patterns revealed valuable insights into the bodyâs health status.
Through the presence or absence of pigmentation (subtle shifts in light and dark patterns), the trained eye of an iridologist can identify signs of both underactive and overactive organs or systems. Iridology serves as a valuable holistic tool, offering insight into the bodyâs overall state of health. Each organ resonates with its own unique energetic frequency (whether balanced, sluggish, overstimulated or degenerative), and the iris fibres are remarkably responsive to these internal changes, often reflecting them in distinct and visible ways.
After years of examining every minute tiny fibre of the iris, I noticed that certain health conditions consistently revealed similar, if not identical, patterns across different individuals. This realisation made it increasingly possible to anticipate and address potential issues before any symptoms appeared.
Given my background in optometry, I became more and more interested in studying the iris for signs of serious visual problems as well.
When I came to understand that genetic predisposition is a key risk factor in glaucoma, I became certain that I wanted to explore if specific features within the iris could indicate whether someone is more likely to develop the condition. The clues, worth exploring, could be there, all waiting to be seen.
As Hippocrates wisely said:
âFoolish is the doctor who despises the knowledge acquired by the ancients.â
GLAUCOMA
I would like to emphasise the importance of respecting and appreciating the knowledge and experiences of those who came before us, and in doing so with an open mind about things that we donât fully understand but are willing to consider. My aim with this book is to contribute, ever so slightly, to the unmet medical need to help prevent, detect, protect, preserve, and restore visual field/visual perception in those with primary open-angle glaucoma.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a term applied to a group of eye diseases that cause a characteristic and recognisable deterioration of the optic nerve, the crucial structure responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to progressive, irreversible vision loss and, in severe cases, blindness. The condition often develops slowly and without noticeable symptoms in its early stages, making regular eye examinations essential for early detection.
Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), also known as âchronic open angle glaucomaâ or just âopen angle glaucomaâ, is the most common form of glaucoma in the UK. It is estimated that about 2% of people aged 40+ have POAG, and this rises to almost 10% in people older than 75 years.
The Role of the Optic Nerve
The optic nerve is a vital component of the visual system, responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain. It consists of approximately a million nerve fibres that work together to create a clear and continuous image of the world around us. When intraocular pressure is elevated beyond the limit that will permit normal function of the optic nerve, the optic nerve is damaged or injured, the transmission of visual information and, hence, the visual image is impaired. Fortunately, those working in eye care can usually detect glaucomatous optic nerve damage before there is noticeable visual loss by examining the back of the eye. Sometimes, damage to the nerve can be observed with specialised tests before there is a change in vision by specialised tests.
Understanding Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is often simply defined as a condition in which elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) causes damage to the optic nerve. However, this definition encompasses two critical components. First, it refers to an abnormal rise in IOP (typically considered above 21 mmHg), usually due to impaired drainage of aqueous humour or obstruction to its normal flow between the posterior and anterior chambers of the eye. Second, it implies that this elevated pressure leads to damage of the retinal ganglion cells and their axons, the final neural pathway connecting the eye to the brain.
Yet, this seemingly straightforward definition falls short when we consider clinical realities. For example, some individuals present with characteristic glaucomatous damage such as optic nerve head cupping and specific visual field loss, even though their IOP remains within the so-called ânormalâ range (below 21 mmHg). Conversely, others may exhibit persistently high IOP due to inflammatory conditions, yet show no signs of optic nerve damage, even over extended periods.
These contrasting cases reveal that glaucoma is a multifactorial disease and cannot be solely defined by intraocular pressure. It is a complex neurodegenerative condition involving individual susceptibility, vascular factors, and cellular vulnerability defying a simplistic explanation.
Glaucoma UK has done a brilliant job of thoroughly explaining the structure of the eye, what eye pressure is and how this is related to glaucoma diagnosis, so if you are new to Glaucoma I would like to refer you to their website for all the information you would need: https://glaucoma.uk/
"Iris Patterns and Glaucoma" by Carolyn Aitken is a book that made me look at my eye and iris health from a different angle altogether. As both an optician and certified iridologist, the author explores how various iris patterns can be an indication of diseases like glaucoma (I found that fascinating), and honestly, this needs to be studied more.
I loved how accessible the writing was. The author knows that common readers might be confused, so she breaks down right from the basics of glaucoma and its types. The real highlight of the book is her study from Helensburgh, Scotland, where she examined 204 participants and found some interesting patterns in many people. She identified that specific iris features in many glaucoma patients are linked to zinc deficiency.
The book has eye diagrams, iridology maps, and references to many legit sources like Harvard studies and Glaucoma UK. I loved how the author suggests alternative medicine and solutions, especially nutritional deficiencies, to ocular health. The author even mentions how different colours and patterns, like shadow rings, indicate an individualâs health. It might help the readers detect and prevent major diseases.
The best part for me was the real-life examples the author has given in the book with their charts. The difference between the iris patterns before and after the treatment is tremendous. The chart also indicates how the issue is tackled.
But this book firmly sits within the alternative health space, and mainstream medicine generally doesnât accept iridology as a proven diagnostic method. So, if you are looking for conventional ophthalmology textbooks, this isnât it for you.
I am giving this book 5 out of 5, solely on its context and information rather than diagnostic style.
Overall, the book is a valuable read for anyone interested in holistic eye health or curious about iridology.