Angiogenesis and ophthalmic disease

Ocular angiogenesis is responsible for the majority of irreversible blindness in the developed world [1]. This debilitating complication affects all age groups and characterizes such diverse and widespread diseases as trachoma, retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, neovascular glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Although numerous relatively rare conditions also exhibit ocular angiogenesis, the aim of this review will be to briefly summarize our current knowledge regarding the clinical and laboratory findings of the most epidemiologically significant diseases. We will also describe current concepts regarding the pathogenesis of ocular angiogenesis. In this review the term 'neovascularization', which is more prevalent in the ophthalmic literature, will be used to describe the development of pathological new vessels and should be considered synonymous with 'angiogenesis'.