Neovascular Glaucoma: Etiology, Diagnosis and Prognosis

Abstract

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a severe form of glaucoma with devastating visual outcome attributed to new blood vessels obstructing aqueous humor outflow, usually secondary to widespread posterior segment ischemia. Invasion of the anterior chamber by a fibrovascular membrane initially obstructs aqueous outflow in an open-angle fashion and later contracts to produce secondary synechial angle-closure glaucoma. The full blown picture of NVG is characteristized by iris neovascularization, a closed anterior chamber angle, and extremely high intraocular pressure (IOP) with severe ocular pain and usually poor vision.

Keywords:

• neovascular glaucoma
• rubeotic glaucoma
• neovascularization
• retinal ischemia
• vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
• proliferative diabetic retinopathy
• central retinal vein occlusion