Combined vitrectomy, near-confluent panretinal endolaser, bevacizumab and cyclophotocoagulation for neovascular glaucoma - a retrospective interventional case series

[Neovascular Glaucomas - Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prophylaxis]

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a severe potentially blinding disease, which represents one of the most common types of secondary glaucomas. The majority of cases are caused by ischemic retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion or ocular ischemic syndrome. If appropriately diagnosed and treated, ideally the development of NVG can be prevented. Since treatment gets increasingly challenging as the disease progresses, early diagnosis is of utmost importance. In this review pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis are discussed extensively. A focus is put on the consecutive stages through which the disease progresses and how to diagnose and differentiate them. Ultimately a stage adapted therapy approach is detailed, consisting of the three blocks: 1. treatment of the underlying disease/retinal ischemia, 2. adjunctive medical therapy (anti-VEGF) and 3. therapy of the elevated intraocular pressure.

[Secondary open-angle glaucoma: pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma and neovascular glaucoma]

Secondary open-angle glaucomas are a heterogeneous group of diseases in which a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms result in an elevation of intraocular pressure. This article is the first part of a review of the more common forms of secondary open-angle glaucomas. The pathogenesis, characteristic clinical findings and treatment of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma and neovascular glaucoma are discussed. An emphasis is placed on the differences in treatment compared to primary open-angle glaucoma and prophylactic treatment approaches are explained where possible.

Sekundärglaukome im Rahmen retinaler Erkrankungen

Zusammenfassung: Eine Vielzahl retinaler Erkrankungen kann zur Entwicklung eines Glaukoms führen. Die häufigste Form dieser Sekundärglaukome sind die Neovaskularisationsglaukome, die den Hauptteil dieser Übersicht bilden. Dabei handelt sich um ein schwerwiegendes Krankheitsbild, dass in mehreren Stadien verläuft, wobei die Prognose mit zunehmendem Stadium ungünstiger und die Therapie herausfordernder wird. Neben Pathogenese und Diagnostik wird daher ein Schwerpunkt wird auf die Früherkennung und eine an das jeweilige Krankheitsstadium angepasste Therapie gelegt. Auch seltenere Sekundärglaukome im Rahmen intraokularer Tumore sowie Glaukome assoziiert mit einer Netzhautablösung (Schwartz-Matsuo Syndrom) und Glaukome, die im Spätverlauf nach unkomplizierter Vitrektomie auftreten, werden in dieser Übersicht diskutiert. Abstract: A variety of retinal diseases can lead to the development of glaucoma. The most common type of these secondary glaucomas is neovascular glaucoma (NVG), which constitutes the main subject of this review. NVG is a severe condition with a poor prognosis. Treatment gets increasingly challenging as the disease progresses. Thus emphasis is put on early diagnosis and an stage adjusted therapy. Other less frequent secondary glaucomas, such as glaucomas due to intraocular tumors or associated with retinal detachment (Schwartz-Matsuo syndrome) and late onset open-angle glaucomas after uncomplicated vitrectomy are covered.