Neovascular glaucoma

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a severely blinding, intractable disease. The objective of this review is to provide detailed information on its basic and clinical aspects, to enable us to manage it logically. Therefore, its causes, pathogenesis and pathology, methods of early diagnosis and management are discussed. To prevent or reduce the extent of visual loss caused by NVG, the first essential is to have a high index of suspicion of its development. The most common diseases responsible for development of NVG are ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), diabetic retinopathy and ocular ischemic syndrome. In the management strategy, the first priority should be to try to prevent its development by appropriate management of the causative diseases. If NVG develops, early diagnosis is crucial to reduce the extent of visual loss. Management of NVG primarily consists of controlling the high IOP by medical and/or surgical means to minimize the visual loss. Currently, we still do not have a satisfactory means of treating NVG and preventing visual loss in the majority, in spite of multiple modes of medical and surgical options advocated over the years and claims made. This review discusses the pros and cons for the various advocated treatments. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.