The iris chart: zones of the iris in iridology

The iris is divided into two main axes. The first axis is radial: zones radiate outward from the pupil at the centre toward the iris edge. The inner zones are traditionally mapped to internal organs (digestive system at the very inner ring); the outer zones are traditionally mapped to the skin and external systems. The second axis is angular: zones rotate around the iris like the hours on a clock face.

The right iris is mapped to the right side of the body and the left iris to the left side. The chart's twelve-o'clock position corresponds to the head and brain in both irises. The clockwise rotation in the right iris and counterclockwise in the left covers the rest of the body in roughly symmetrical zones.

Bernard Jensen's chart, published in 1952 and refined through subsequent editions, is the most-widely-used English-language reference. European iridology (particularly the German Rayid Method developed by Denny Johnson) uses slightly different zone mappings and emphasises personality reading more than organ-system reading. Asian iridology traditions overlap with TCM face-mapping and use yet different reference charts.

Twelve o'clock zone (upper iris): traditionally mapped to the brain, head, and cranial structures. Markings in this zone are read in classical iridology as constitutional patterns relating to the head and nervous system.

Two o'clock to four o'clock (right iris, this side of the body): traditionally mapped to the right lung, right kidney, and the right side of the torso. The left iris's symmetric ten o'clock to eight o'clock zones cover the left side of the body.

Five o'clock to seven o'clock (lower iris): traditionally mapped to the digestive organs. The inner ring of this zone is read for stomach and upper intestine; the middle ring for liver and gallbladder; the outer ring for the lower bowel and pelvic organs.

Eight o'clock to ten o'clock (left iris): traditionally mapped to the left lung and left kidney. Symmetric to the right iris's two-to-four position.

The constitutional zone (the innermost ring around the pupil): read for inherited constitutional tendencies, the underlying type-pattern that organises the rest of the iris.

The chronic and acute zones (middle and outer rings): read for accumulated long-term patterns and current short-term irritations respectively.

The iris chart is a tradition-based reference document, not a peer-reviewed medical chart. The 1979 JAMA study by Simon, Worthen, and Mitas tested experienced iridologists against the chart and found they performed no better than chance at identifying the presence or absence of kidney disease from iris photographs. Subsequent studies have produced similar findings across other specific conditions.

The honest framing is that the iris chart organises observation of the iris into a classical vocabulary. The vocabulary has cultural and entertainment value; the medical-diagnostic claims do not hold up to controlled testing. The Iridology reading on this site presents the chart-based reading as cultural-tradition reflection, not as medical assessment.

Anyone with a specific medical concern (vision changes, eye pain, suspected disease) should see an ophthalmologist or general practitioner. Iridology is a wellness tradition; it is not a substitute for clinical assessment.