Neovascular glaucoma after branch retinal artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) occurring after branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) might not be as rare as previously thought. We report a case of unilateral NVG after BRAO.

CASE: A 72-year-old man with chronic heart failure suffered from BRAO in the left eye. Funduscopic examination showed retinal edema and many cotton wool spots in the superotemporal retina.

OBSERVATIONS: Five weeks later, he had increased blurring of vision due to a second BRAO in the inferotemporal retina of the left eye. Three days later, he felt pain and had severe visual loss in the left eye. In the presence of angle neovascularization, intraocular pressure (IOP) in the left eye rose to 35 mmHg. Immediate focal photocoagulation to the affected retina diminished the neovascularization and lowered the IOP.

CONCLUSION: It is possible for NVG to occur as a complication of BRAO.