Infrequency of retinal neovascularization following central retinal vein occlusion attributed to endothelial death

48 patients with central retinal vein occlusion by clinical diagnosis and 10 eyes by histopathological documentation were studied and reviewed. Only 1 eye developed retinal neovascularization. Rubeosis iridis occurs in 14% of clinical cases and all of histopathologic cases. 10 long-standing neovascular glaucoma enucleated eyes following central retinal vein occlusion show absence of retinal endothelial cells. The absence of retinal capillary endothelial cells seems to be significant in explaining the rare occurrence of retinal neovascularization following central retinal vein occlusion. However, the small number sampling may reflect a biased result. Further prospective studies with more cases and time observation are required to draw the final conclusion.