May 2007

Eyes can tell a lot about a person. Droopy lids may convey sleepless nights, while red eyes reveal hay fever. Ophthalmologists may diagnose tumors or diabetes by looking at the retina and yellow eyes may be a sign of jaundice.

Only one type of practitioner will say that information about the entire body may be found in the blue, green or brown circles of the eyes. Iridologists claim to find the health of the heart, liver and thyroid by looking at variations in the iris.

According to iridology charts (see sidebar), the iris may be broken up into a slew of sections that represent various body parts and organs. If, for example, an iridologist sees an abnormality at three o’clock in the left eye, he may diagnose a problem with the lungs.

“Well we don’t say diagnose,” corrected Harvey Vedder, the co-founder of the New York Center for Iridology. “We also can’t say prescribe, cure or examination.”

Vedder's words convey the inherent tension surrounding iridology. Scientists have not found proof that the practice works. American physicians and scientists, who view iridology as a pseudo-science, like acupuncture or reflexology, often treat it with scorn. Meanwhile, in Europe, especially in Russia and Germany, the practice is widely used, sometimes by general practice physicians. Some patients, both here and abroad, swear by the diagnostic power of the eyes.

Lead vocalist of Air Supply, Russell Hitchcock, wrote a testimonial after Harvey Vedder’s wife, Judy Vedder, helped him overcome problems with his vocal cords and throat.

“I have had many comments from fans and promoters alike that tell me I am singing better than I have in years,” Hitchcock wrote on the Center for Iridology's website.

The iridology sessions at the New York Center for Iridology are a noninvasive approach to alternative medicine and generally consist of a close study of the eyes using a microscope. After Judy Vedder makes a determination based on the findings, she generally recommends a change of diet or herbal supplements. The Vedders claim that eyes indicate not just current ailments, but also past injuries and a map of genetic predispositions.

“The eyes contain a trauma log, so if you’ve fallen and broken your leg, we’re likely to see it,” Harvey Vedder said.

While the practice of iridology has a long history (see sidebar), the current method often adheres to Dr. Bernard Jensen’s model. Jensen, who began his career as a chiropractor, eventually shifted into the realm of alternative medicine by experimenting with naturopathic cures.

“I believe in iridology as the ‘eye’ of the natural healing arts, the window through which the holistic perspective on health becomes understandable,” Jensen wrote on his website in January 2001, a month before his death at age 92. “Iridology is a wonderful means of demonstrating the rewards of choosing a healthy way of life, the ideal tool of preventive medicine.”

Despite Jensen’s ardent belief in the power of iridology, the practice often shows up on websites such as Quackwatch.com and Skepdic.com, in light of failed experiments in which iridologists (including Jensen) misdiagnosed people. Some ophthalmologists believe that the persistence of iridology’s credibility in certain circles may relate to actual evidence that the eyes can diagnose some ailments.

According to Dr. James Salz, an ophthalmologist and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, lupus and brain tumors may be diagnosed using various parts of the eye. Yet the iris is scientifically proven to diagnose just one ailment that Salz could think of, which is iron toxicity.

While the effectiveness of iridology remains a question, there is still a demand for the sessions, to the point that the New York Center for Iridology now offers classes to teach the basics of reading irises.

“We don’t even advertise for the classes,” Harvey Vedder said. Yet despite the lack of scientific evidence, people still show up, wanting to learn more about the power of the eyes.