Step 1: A coloboma results from failure of the embryonic fissure (optic or choroidal fissure) to close during fetal development.
Step 2: The embryonic fissure lies in the inferonasal part of the developing eye. When it fails to fuse, the resulting iris coloboma is located inferonasally, giving the classic keyhole-shaped pupil.
Step 3: Hence iris coloboma is most common in the inferonasal quadrant.
Step 4: The other quadrants (inferotemporal, superotemporal, superonasal) do not correspond to the line of the embryonic fissure, so colobomas there are uncommon.