retinal neovascularization

Etiology

• central retinal neovascularization
  • diabetic retinopathy
  • macular degeneration
  • retinal vein occlusion
  • radiation
• peripheral retinal neovascularization
  • sickle cell disease
  • retinopathy of prematurity

Pathology

• retinal ischemia induces aberrant angiogenesis
• veseels lack the bifurcating pattern of normal vessels
• vessels bleed spontaneously or with minimal trauma
• hemorrhage into the retina & into the interface between the retina & vitreous
• formation of fibrovascular stalks which induce vitreous contraction which pulls the vitreous away from the retina
• eventually, retinal detachment occurs
• blindness may result

Diagnostic procedures

• ophthalmoscopy
  • tangle of blood vessels on the retinal surface
  • retinal hemorrhage

Management

• control of precipitating factors
• retinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathyt
• intravitreal treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin) has been used for treatment of wet macular degeneration

More general terms

• angiogenesis (neovascularization, NV)
• retinal disease