Retinal and choroidal neovascularization in sickle cell disease

Small vessel obstruction characterizes sickle cell disease and, when occurring in the peripheral retinal vessels, initiates a sequence of vascular events which may culminate in the development of proliferative sickle retinopathy (PSR). Repeated examinations of the retinal vasculature of patients with different genotypes of sickle cell disease over the last 10 years (Condon and Serjeant, 1972a, b, c; 1975; 1980a) have allowed observations on the natural history of PSR and on factors related to its development. Choroidal neovascularization has been a common complication of a trial of xenon arc photo-coagulation in PSR. Observations on the aetiology and natural history of both retinal and choroidal neovascularization are presented in this report.