Rubeosis iridis and neovascular glaucoma: I. Etiopathogenesis and treatment--the present state of the problem

Rubeosis iridis is one of the severest complications of the occlusive diseases of retinal vessels associated with retinal hypoxia. In the pathogenesis of rubeosis, the author emphasizes the chronicity of retinal hypoxia which leads to the production of the vasoproliferative substance. This so-called vasoproliferative factor then induces the new formation of vessels on the retina, the optic disc, the iris and the anterior chamber angle. Neovascularization of the anterior chamber angle then very often results in the development of the prognostically very unfavourable neovascular glaucoma. It shows that the most effective methods of treatment of rubeosis iridis are the so-called coagulation techniques-panretinal photocoagulation or cryocoagulation. By application of these techniques, we achieve the destruction of the anatomical substrate which is responsible for the production of the vasoproliferative substance, and the result is involution of rubeosis on the iris and in the anterior chamber angle.