The ANA Mission
Represent, serve, and support the North American community of persons affected by aniridia and their families, patient advocacy organizations, and clinicians and scientists
ANIRIDIA North America
REPRESENT
SERVE
SUPPORT
ANA Vision
To assist North American aniridia-related patient advocacy organizations, coordinate with international organizations, strengthen and expand research, promote dissemination of information, and support clinical providers to improve outcomes for individuals with aniridia.
ANA Values
Fair representation for all aniridia-related stakeholders in North America, with meaningful, transparent, inclusive engagement.
Latest ANA News
2023 ANA Symposium: A Patient-Focused Summary of Presentations
Read how scientists are working to solve the aniridia puzzle. A patient-focused summary of presentations given at the 2023 ANA Symposium can be downloaded here.
Peter A. Netland, MD, PhD appointed Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk, VA
Aniridia North America (ANA) is pleased to announce that our Board Chair, Dr. Peter Netland, is moving to Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk, Virginia as Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology.
2023 In Review & 2024 Strategic Plan
Thank you to all who supported and donated to ANA in 2023. Thanks to your support, great things were achieved! The ANA Board of Directors is looking forward to another great year in 2024.
The infographics below provide a snapshot of the accomplishments in 2023 and highlight some goals set for 2024.
Aniridia & Neuropsychology Survey – FAQs
Thank you for your interest in furthering aniridia research by filling out the Aniridia and Neuropsychology survey. Below are the answers to…
Focal Point – Episode 3 – Aniridia 101: How to Care for a Child’s Eyes with Aniridia
ANA’s 3rd episode of Focal Point –Aniridia 101: How to Care for a Child’s Eyes with Aniridia– was held on August 22 with Guest: Dr. Alex Levin. View a recording here.
What is Aniridia?
Aniridia is a rare genetic condition generally characterized by either the complete or partial absence of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye.
The word “aniridia” means “without iris”. The lack of iris is often the first and most noticeable feature of aniridia.
Aniridia can lead to complications with the eye including but not limited to:
- glaucoma
- cataracts
- corneal keratopathy
- strabismus
- nystagmus
- foveal hypoplasia
Aniridia and related complications present differently in each individual.
Recent research indicates that non-ocular conditions can also occur with aniridia. Some of these conditions include:
- central auditory processing disorder
- sleep disturbances
- brain abnormalities
- issues with the pancreas
Research is ongoing to better identify and understand these and other associated conditions.
Join ANA
Membership in ANA is free and open to anyone interested in aniridia. Whether you are a patient, family member, educator, clinician, scientist, or a patient advocacy organization, you are welcome here.
Sign up to receive updates and information from ANA. We know that alone we are rare, but together, we are strong.
North American Partner Organizations
ANA aims to augment the efforts of, facilitate interaction between, and provide support for groups and organizations focused on aniridia-related problems, with an inclusive approach and meaningful engagement. This includes coordinating and synergizing the efforts of these groups with similar international organizations.
