BACKGROUND: Ultrasound cycloplasty is a noninvasive surgery used to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma, with fewer severe complications. This report presents several cases of iris neovascularization and neurotrophic keratopathy following ultrasound cycloplasty.
METHODS: Six patients diagnosed with refractory glaucoma underwent ultrasound cycloplasty at our clinic. Three cases developed iris neovascularization at postoperative day 3, week 2 and week 4 respectively, with intraocular pressure ranging from 12 to 24 mmHg. The other three cases developed neurotrophic keratopathy at postoperative week 3, week 6 and week 8 which completely healed within 60 days.
CONCLUSIONS: Iris neovascularization and neurotrophic keratopathy can be triggered after ultrasound cycloplasty, which are uncommon and self-limited but potentially vision-threatening. Preoperative risk assessment and regular postoperative follow-up are recommended to manage complications effectively.

Background: Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a severe, potentially blinding disease and a therapeutic challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an integrative surgical approach to neovascular glaucoma. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a one-year follow-up of a consecutive interventional case series of NVG. Eyes underwent transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, pars plana vitrectomy, near-confluent panretinal photocoagulation, and intravitreal bevacizumab. Phakic eyes underwent concomitant cataract surgery. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), intraocular pressure (IOP, mmHg), number of glaucoma medication, visual analog pain scale (VAPS, 0-10) were recorded at baseline, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Blind eyes were excluded. Results: Seventy-seven eyes of 77 patients (45 male, 32 female, mean age 73.6±12.2 years) were included. NVG underlying conditions included retinal vein occlusion (41.6%), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (35.1%), central retinal artery occlusion (19.5%), and ocular ischemic syndrome (3.9%). Mean IOP decreased postoperatively from 46.3±10.1 mmHg to 14.5±7.9 mmHg (p<0.001), glaucoma medication from 4.7±1.3 to 1.8±1.8 (p<0.001), and VAPS from 6.0±1.8 to 0. BCVA remained unchanged. Postoperative intraocular inflammation had resolved in all eyes at the one-month follow-up. 71.4% (55/77) eyes did not require additional major interventions during follow-up. Conclusions: A single, comprehensive surgery session lowered IOP significantly, reduced GMS, and controlled pain.

Purpose: To characterize the aqueous levels of inflammation and ischemia-related biomarkers in a spectrum of retinal ischemic conditions, including neovascular glaucoma (NVG) with stable iris neovascularization after pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) and anti-VEGF treatment. Methods: Aqueous samples were collected from 139 eyes including NVG (n = 12), stable NVG (n = 26), CRVO (n = 11), NPDR (n = 18), PACG (n = 18), PDR (n = 25), BRVO (n = 7) and cataract (n = 22). The levels of VEGF-A, IL-8 and EPO were measured with ELISA. Results: Aqueous VEGF-A significantly decreased after anti-VEGF and PRP, from 983.79 ± 821.16 pg/ml in the NVG group (n = 11) to 256.50 ± 51.14 pg/ml in the stable NVG group (n = 24) (P = .015). Aqueous VEGF-A in stable NVG group (256.50 ± 51.14 pg/ml, n = 24) was significantly higher (ANOVA, P < .001) than in CRVO (212.10 ± 19.84 pg/ml, n = 7, P = .017), NPDR (221.18 ± 38.21 pg/ml, n = 14, P = .015), BRVO (213.14 ± 48.50 pg/ml, n = 6, P = .028) and cataract group (185.30 ± 34.35 pg/ml, n = 22, P < .001). Aqueous IL-8 in stable NVG group (74.82 ± 10.78 pg/ml, n = 24) was significantly higher (ANOVA, P < .001) than in CRVO (65.19 ± 15.34 pg/ml, n = 11, P = .032) and cataract group (54.11 ± 12.28 pg/ml, n = 22, P < .001). Aqueous EPO in stable NVG group (17.48 ± 3.02 pg/ml, n = 24) was significantly higher (ANOVA, P < .001) than in BRVO (14.98 ± 2.57 pg/ml, n = 7, P = .034) and cataract group (13.50 ± 2.65 pg/ml, n = 22, P < .001). Aqueous concentrations of VEGF-A and IL-8 correlated positively with IOP (r = 0.413, P < .001, r = 0.349, P < .001, respectively, r = correlation coefficient). VEGF-A correlated positively with IL-8 and EPO (P < .001, P = .002, respectively). IL-8 correlated positively with EPO (P < .001). Conclusions: The aqueous levels of VEGF-A, IL-8 and EPO in NVG patients with stable iris neovascularization, who had received PRP and anti-VEGF, were still significantly higher than in control groups with some retinal ischemic conditions.

BACKGROUND: With an increased number of papers on how to interpret optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in uveitis, the aim of this review is to assess its efficacy for the quantitative monitoring of structural and functional changes in inflamed conjunctiva and iris vessels in patients with acute anterior uveitis and iris neovascularization.
UNASSIGNED: OCTA, currently designed as a retinal vascular imaging system, has been recently adapted for anterior segment and showed good potential for successful imaging of the conjunctiva, the cornea, and the iris. OCTA can successfully delineate corneal vessels with substantial image quality. At the same time, it can detect changes in conjunctival and limbal vascularization and thus can be applied to pseudo-inflammatory conditions such as pterygium. Anterior segment OCTA allows analysis of iris vasculature and 3-D reconstruction of the normal iris vessels. OCTA can determined iris vessel filling defects or their flow increase, when present, secondary to inflammatory conditions. In addition, OCTA gives qualitative vessel density values that can be compared pre- and post-anti-inflammatory treatment. OCTA for imaging of the iris vasculature in health and disease is highly dependent on iris pigmentation. In both OCTA and fluorescein angiography, iris pigmentation causes vasculature imaging blockage, but OCTA provides more detailed iris vasculature images. Fine, clinically invisible iris vessels can be visualized by OCTA in the very early stages as well as in the regressed stage of NVI. Additional studies including different iris pathologies are needed to determine the most optimal scanning parameters in OCTA of the anterior segment.
CONCLUSIONS: This review aims to establish the current application of OCTA to anterior segment disorders of the eye, with an emphasis on exploring its use in iris vessel dilation seen in various forms of iritis, as a predictive factor for further episodes of inflammation. In addition, OCTA can depict neovascularization of the iris secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To report the association of rubeosis iridis with chronic bullous degenerative peripheral retinoschisis.
METHODS: A 63-year-old female presented with acute hyphema and neovascularization of the iris in association with elevated intraocular pressure. Posterior segment examination including imaging revealed no vascular occlusion as a potential cause. However, large, peripheral bullous retinoschisis was noted in the right eye. No nonperfusion aside from that seen within the schism detachment, or neovascularization of the retina on wide-field fundus photography or fluorescein angiography was noted. Bullous retinoschisis was also found in the left eye. The patient was treated conservatively with prednisolone acetate and timolol eye drops.
CONCLUSIONS: Chronic bullous retinoschisis can be associated with anterior segment neovascularization such as rubeosis iridis, presumably due to non-perfusion within the retinoschisis cavity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between different spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) signs of retinal ischemia in acute central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and whether they predict anterior segment neovascularization (ASNV).
METHODS: Retrospective, observational study.
METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients with acute CRVO and 12 months of follow-up.
METHODS: We graded baseline SD-OCTs for increased reflectivity of the inner retina, loss of definition of inner retinal layers, presence of a prominent middle-limiting membrane (p-MLM) sign, and presence of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM). Graders were masked with respect to all clinical information.
RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of grading-regrading by graders 1 and 2 were 0.8104, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.6686, 0.8956), and 0.7986, 95% CI (0.6475, 0.8892), respectively. The intragrader coefficients of repeatability (COR) for graders 1 and 2 were 0.94 and 0.92, respectively. The ICC of graders 1 compared with 2 was 0.8039, 95% CI (0.6544, 0.8916). The intergrader COR was 0.80. SD-OCT grades of baseline ischemia were not associated with baseline visual acuity (VA), central subfield mean thickness (CSMT), or relative afferent pupillary defect; 12-month VA, CSMT, change in VA, change in CSMT, number of antivascular endothelial growth factor injections or corticosteroid injections, or proportion of eyes developing ASNV. SD-OCT grades of ischemia did not correlate with the proportion of eyes having the p-MLM sign or PAMM. PAMM and p-MLM are milder signs of ischemia than increased reflectivity of the inner retinal layers. Eyes with PAMM can evolve, losing PAMM and gaining the p-MLM sign.
CONCLUSIONS: Grading of ischemia from SD-OCT in acute CRVO was repeatable within graders and reproducible across graders for the graders in this study. SD-OCT signs of ischemia are not correlated with each other and do not reliably predict subsequent ASNV. Close monitoring of eyes with acute CRVO continues to be the safest method to avoid missing ASNV and neovascular glaucoma.

The differential diagnosis of dilated iris vasculature in a neonate includes retinopathy of prematurity with anterior segment plus disease, persistent fetal vasculature, intrauterine cocaine exposure, maternal diabetes, and other pathologies associated with iris neovascularization and ischemia seen in adult populations, such as central retinal vein occlusions, ocular ischemic syndrome, and chronic retinal detachment. We present neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy as a new etiology of dilated iris vasculature in a male baby who suffered a large in-utero brain vasculature insult three weeks prior to delivery but with normal fundi, no risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (normal birth weight, and gestational age), and no other explanatory etiologies. The mechanism of the dilated iris vasculature is likely also ischemic and therefore its presence likely portends a poor prognosis. We recommend that the neonatologist evaluate for this sign for this reason and consult ophthalmology to ensure its correct etiology.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab in reducing iris and anterior chamber angle neovascularization and managing neovascular glaucoma.
METHODS: Prospective interventional case series.
METHODS: Eleven eyes of 11 patients with iris and anterior chamber angle neovascularization with refractory intraocular pressure were treated with intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg bevacizumab (Avastin((R))). The study group included eight males and three females aged 23 to 77 years (average, 62 years). Out of the 11 cases, five had proliferative diabetic retinopathy, of whom two had undergone vitrectomy for tractional retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage, and six were secondary to ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). All patients were followed for eight to 16 months (average, 10 months).
RESULTS: Iris and anterior chamber angle neovascularization receded in all eyes after one to three injections at monthly intervals. In five eyes, neovascularization recurred during the follow-up period. The intraocular pressure normalized in one eye. Four eyes were controlled with anti-glaucoma drops. A cyclodestructive procedure was required in two eyes. An Ahmet drainage valve was implanted in four eyes, including one controlled with additional antiglaucoma drops and one in which the intraocular pressure remained high while on maximum antiglaucoma medication and a cyclodestructive procedure was scheduled.
CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab appears to be effective in reducing iris and anterior chamber angle neovascularization and is likely to extend our therapeutic options in the management of neovascular glaucoma.