The authors present a group of six patients with pigmented tumours of the iris and the iridocorneal angle where they performed excision of the tumour by iridectomy (3 patients) or iridiocycletomyy (3 patients). In all six patients with a pigmented tumour of the iris an impaired blood-ocular fluid barrier was found and colouration of the tumour mass by fluorescein. In one patient a heavily pigmented tumour was detected which masked the vascular network.Impaired permeability was found more markedly at the margins. Histological examination confirmed in five instances melanoma of the iris, in one instance a pigmented naevus was involved. During the mean observation period of 32.5 months none of the patients developed a relapse or metastases. Consistent with the extent of the surgical intervention, within 6 months at the latest in all patients the disorder of the blood-ocular fluid barrier improved.

        Key words: melanoma of the iris, fluorescein angiography, excision of melanoma, iridocyclectomy