[Neovascular glaucoma caused by branch vein occlusion and deficiency of carotid-encephalic circulation: pathogenetic...

The authors present two cases of neovascular glaucoma following branch retinal vein occlusion. The first case presented bilateral ischaemic branch retinal vein occlusions. In this case there was bilateral impairment of blood flow in the carotido-cerebrovascular system, more marked on the side where the neovascular glaucoma was present. The second case developed neovascular glaucoma following an ischaemic branch retinal vein occlusion of the right eye and had bilateral carotid stenosis that was more complete on the right: where the neovascular glaucoma occurred. The authors analyse the main pathogenic hypothesis of neovascular glaucoma, and suggest that it could be the result of the concurrent action of posterior ocular alterations (like retinal ischaemia following a branch retinal vein occlusion) and of cerebrovascular insufficiency. This second factor could contribute to global ocular ischaemia, thus, involving the anterior vascular structures of the eye as well.