Endovascular surgery in the field of ophthalmology

In this article, we provide an overview of the current perspectives on endovascular surgery in ophthalmology, including a description of the various approaches, recent clinical results and future prospects. Experimental studies of endovascular surgery in ophthalmology started in the 1980s; since then, a considerable amount of research has been done to develop the procedure for clinical use. During the past two decades endovascular surgery has been performed on eyes with retinal vascular disorders, including central retinal vein occlusion and central retinal artery occlusion. The first endovascular surgery on human eyes was performed in 1998 on a patient with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). The most recent techniques used in retinal endovascular surgery involve manual injection of liquid agents such as tissue plasminogen activator into major retinal vessels using a 47 or 48-gauge micro-needle. New technology using a bimanual procedure and digitally assisted vitrectomy systems enables surgeons to perform this delicate procedure more effectively. Recent results reported from a number of researchers corroborate the effectiveness of the procedure. Endovascular surgery is one of the latest techniques in the field of ophthalmology and has garnered significant interest from vitreoretinal surgeons. However, it is also at the limit of what surgeons are able to accomplish with manual precision. There is still much to learn and improve to maximize the potential of this approach. The combination of skills as a surgeon, sound science, objective clinical evidence and cutting edge technology will lead to improvements in this field.