1. A method for identifying an iris image, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining an iris image of an eye; generating, from the iris image, an original iris template; generating a modified iris template based only on an extracted portion of the iris template, wherein the extracted portion is a row of the iris template; comparing the modified iris template with a plurality of previously stored other modified iris templates to select at least one candidate for full template matching; and comparing the selected at least one candidate with the original iris template.