A method of iris recognition comprises detecting a body region larger than and comprising at least one iris in an image and performing a first eye modelling on the detected body region. If successful, the result of first iris segmentation based on the first eye model is chosen. Otherwise, a first iris identification is performed on the detected body region. If successful, the result of second iris segmentation based on a second eye modelling is chosen. Otherwise, second iris identification is performed on the image, third eye modelling is performed on the result of the second iris identification, and third iris segmentation is performed on the result of the third eye modelling. If successful, the result of third iris segmentation based on a third eye modelling is chosen. An iris code is extracted from any selected iris segment of the image.