Neovascularization of the optic disc associated with obstruction of the central retinal artery

Neovascularization of the optic disc (NVD) has, to the authors' knowledge, rarely been reported in association with acute obstruction of the central retinal artery (CRAO). The authors recently retrospectively reviewed 168 cases of CRAO. In this group, NVD developed in three patients soon after their CRAO, an occurrence rate of 1.8%. Rubeosis iridis also developed in two of these three patients. Although all three patients had either atherosclerotic carotid artery disease, diabetes mellitus, or both, in none of the cases was there clinical evidence implicating these diseases as the direct cause for the NVD. All three eyes received panretinal laser photocoagulation, with eventual resolution of the new vessels.