Abstract
Purpose:
To study the treatment effect of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections on eyes with iris neovascularization (NVI).
Methods:
Retrospective study of patients who underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF for the treatment of NVI at the Rutgers-Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences between January 1, 2007 and March 30, 2017.
Results:
Twenty-eight eyes (mean age, 63 ± 13 years old, 12 [43%] males) were identified. All patients had NVI, and 23 patients had concurrent neovascular glaucoma. The etiology of anterior segment ischemia was proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 20 eyes (71%), central retinal vein occlusion in 7 eyes (25%), and branch retinal vein occlusion in 1 eye (4%). Corneal edema in 25 eyes (89%), hyphema in 11 (39%), visually significant cataract in 25 (86%), and vitreous hemorrhage in 15 (54%) precluded an adequate view to the fundus to perform panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). All patients initially received anti-VEGF therapy; PRP was provided in some eyes (n = 7) with persistent NVI if the view to the fundus improved. On average, 1.66 (median, 1; standard deviation [SD], 1.64) anti-VEGF injections were performed before complete NVI regression was achieved. Complete regression of rubeosis iridis took an average of 42 (median, 40; SD, 48) days from the first injection. Ten eyes (36%) had recurrence of rubeosis at 198 (median, 126; SD, 165) days after complete regression of NVI.
Conclusions:
NVI regression was noted in all eyes. Anti-VEGF may be a good supplement for initial NVI management in eyes when PRP cannot be initiated.
Keywords
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