Iridology: What the Eyes Reveal About Health

Dr. Boris Wydoff

“Eyes are the mirror of the soul,” as the saying goes. Naturopathy adds: and of the body, too. Iridology — reading the iris of the eye — is one of the tools of natural medicine. I use it in my work. The iris shows which systems may be weakened or overloaded and helps us understand what deserves attention. Over my years of practice, I have not seen a single iris without signs of some kind of overload. Complete health is rare.

What Is Iridology and Where Did the Method Come From

Iridology is a way of assessing the condition of the body by signs on the iris. Conventional medicine does not recognize it, but it has long been used in naturopathy. I have been using it for more than forty years.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, naturopathic doctors described how illness could change the iris. I draw on the experience of Dr. Jensen, a well-known specialist in iridology. In my practice, the iris has more than once shown something that was worth paying attention to before clear complaints appeared.

The iris is tissue containing a huge number of tiny nerve fibers. Through the optic nerves, thalamus, and spinal cord, it is connected with every organ of the body. When an organ works under overload for a long time, its corresponding area of the iris may change in color or density, and signs may appear. An experienced eye can read this map.

Many people ask: “Does this really work?” The method is not recognized by conventional medicine, but it has been used in naturopathy for decades. The iris gives a clue about which systems deserve attention. Further answers come from tests and a medical examination.

How the Iris Map Is Organized

The iris has its own map. Each organ is represented in a precisely established location. I keep this map in front of me when I examine the iris.

For example, the area around the pupil represents the stomach and intestines. The outer rim of the iris represents the lymphatic vessels of the intestines and the skin. In the right eye, zone 5:29 is the prostate gland. When examining this area, one may notice changes in color and trabeculae that indicate early changes in the prostate area. The location of the signs repeats in different people and corresponds with their complaints.

The iris receives information from every nerve in the body through the optic nerves, thalamus, and spinal cord. The nerve fibers, muscle fibers, and tiny blood vessels of the iris reproduce changes in the corresponding organs. Therefore, changes in color or the appearance of signs can be used to assess the condition of a particular area of the body.

What Signs Does the Doctor Look For

I look at color, darkening, rings, rims, and spots. Each sign means something.

A white ring along the outer edge of the iris may indicate an accumulation of inorganic sodium. If whitish flakes can be seen on the outer rim, this is often a sign of damage to the lymphatic vessels of the intestines after medications, ice, or surgery.

A rusty-brown color around the pupil is an accumulation of inorganic iron in the tissues of the stomach and intestines. Yellow spots in this area indicate sulfur. Bright red dots indicate iodine. White stripes and cloud-like marks indicate phosphorus. Darkening of the entire iris, especially after treatment with antitoxins or large doses of medication, is a sign of accumulated substances that the body has not eliminated. I have seen a blue or light-brown iris become ash-gray or brownish-gray.

A white or yellowish-brown color in the stomach and intestinal area indicates catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane. A large specific rim in a woman may indicate inactive, atrophied skin and poor superficial circulation.

Inorganic Minerals on the Iris

Organic minerals from fruits, berries, vegetables, and herbs do not leave traces on the iris: the body can easily eliminate what it does not need. Inorganic forms are different. They enter the body through medications or supplements. Inorganic iron accumulates in the tissues of the stomach and intestines and produces a rusty-brown color around the pupil. Sulfur appears as yellow spots in the same area. Iodine extracted from seaweed ash and taken in medicinal form may leave bright red dots. Phosphorus produces white stripes and cloud-like marks in the areas corresponding to the organs. Inorganic sodium produces a dense white rim along the outer edge. Ordinary table salt is an exception: it hardly changes the iris, although too much of it is not beneficial.

When a person changes their diet and lifestyle, these signs may gradually become lighter and disappear. I have observed this many times in my practice. This is a naturopathic observation and has not been confirmed by medical science. This is a naturopathic observation and has not been confirmed by medical science.

What Does the Iris Tell Us

The iris shows inherited weaknesses, organ overload, acute and chronic inflammation, medication deposits, and the condition of the nervous system and capillaries, as well as the degree of intoxication. It reveals constitution, strengths and weaknesses, and the type of nervous and immune system.

In a newborn, the iris may show inherited weaknesses that have not yet appeared. If a child grows up in unfavorable conditions, these signs become more pronounced, and tendencies may develop into chronic conditions. If living conditions are good, inherited tendencies can be softened.

How Signs Change During Cleansing

When a person changes their diet, improves sleep, and takes measures to cleanse the body, the iris does not remain unchanged. Signs that pointed to medication deposits or inorganic substances gradually become paler. Some naturopaths describe old symptoms returning temporarily before this happens — headaches, ringing in the ears, catarrh, bone pain — and explain this as the body eliminating accumulated substances. According to naturopathy, after cleansing, signs of poisoning in the iris decrease or disappear; this has not been confirmed by medical science, and a doctor makes the diagnosis. I have observed a dark iris become lighter, with the original blue color showing through the brown. Such changes take time and require professional supervision. If you feel worse, do not wait for a “crisis” — see a doctor. If you feel worse, do not wait for a “crisis” — see a doctor.

The iris helps identify systems that require attention. A specific condition can be clarified through a medical examination. Conventional medicine does not recognize the method, so I always suggest supplementing an iris examination with ordinary medical tests: laboratory tests, ultrasound, and a doctor's examination.

How an Iris Examination Works

The patient sits opposite me. I examine the iris of both eyes, compare them with the map, and note the signs. Then I ask questions: What hurts? How do you sleep? How do you eat? What medications have you taken? Often the iris points to something the person has forgotten or did not consider important.

For example, a woman comes with complaints of constipation and pain. The iris shows a large rim — sluggish skin and poor circulation. In the intestinal area, there are signs of catarrhal damage and atony. I say: “It looks as though your intestines and stomach have dropped, which is why you have constipation and heaviness.” She confirms it: doctors had mentioned a bend in the uterus, but no one had said anything about the stomach. The iris showed weakness in the digestive organs.

I say: “Here, according to my map, there is an overload of the liver. Let us check it with tests and look at how you eat.”

Before the Examination

No special preparation is required. It is useful to remember which medications you have taken, even if it was a long time ago. The iris often shows a trace of a medication that a person has forgotten about. Be ready to talk about your sleep, diet, bowel movements, and past illnesses. This helps compare what is seen in the iris with your medical history.

What to Do After the Examination

If I see an overload, I explain: this organ needs support. It is worth reviewing your diet and improving your sleep. Cleansing is best done under professional supervision so that you do not cause harm. My books describe natural approaches: fresh juices and gentle warmth over the liver area.

Diet, Cleansing, and Sleep

I often advise starting with simple things: review your diet, add fresh vegetable and fruit juices, and improve your sleep. For example, when the liver and gallbladder are overloaded, a drink made from carrots, beets, ginger, garlic, and apples may be helpful. Drink it slowly, in small sips. The liver is warmed with a rubber hot-water bottle — it provides gentle heat that gradually cools, conforms to the body, and does not burn the skin, unlike an electric heating pad. It is helpful to sleep with the windows open. Bowel cleansing and bile-stimulating remedies are selected individually and only after an ordinary medical examination. Fasting or strict restrictions should be used only when indicated and under supervision.

Natural methods require gradual changes and observation. I always ask patients to have a conventional medical examination first, to rule out conditions requiring urgent medical care. The iris helps us understand where to begin.

For more about how I work with the iris and natural methods, see my book “Secrets of Youth.”

When You Need a Doctor, Not an Iris Examination

Iridology is not intended for acute conditions. If your vision suddenly worsens, you have eye pain, redness, an injury, or a sudden spot appears in your field of vision, you should urgently see an ophthalmologist. These conditions are not related to reading the iris.

You should also see a doctor if you notice a sudden change in the iris: a new dark spot appears or the color of one eye changes. This may be a sign of an eye disease itself rather than a reflection of internal organs. Do not delay.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

Read next

All articles by Dr. Boris Wydoff’s method →