Neovascular Glaucoma Progress and Impact of Therapeutic Intervention in Saudi Arabia

Purpose This study aimed to present the outcomes of the therapeutic interventions for neovascular glaucoma (NVG) between 2002 and 2012 at a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods A retrospective chart review of the patients with NVG treated in the last 10 years at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital was carried out. The demographics, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure (IOP) at the baseline were compared to that, at last, follow-up. The clinical course of treated eyes and causes for poor vision were reviewed. Results Among 597 eyes with NVG, the mean IOP at presentation was 32 mmHg. A total of 335 eyes (56.1%) were treated with pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP). In 459 (77%) eyes, IOP was controlled with medications or different surgeries. The vision on the last follow-up was 20/20 to 20/40 in 19 (3%) eyes, 20/50 to 20/200 in 67 (11%) eyes, 31 mmHg in 102 (17%) eyes. In 26 (3.7%) eyes, ocular hypotony was noted. The causes of poor vision included retinal ischemia (n=75, 13%), optic nerve head cupping (n=104, 17%), retinal detachment (n= 42, 7%) and other (n=17, 3%). Conclusion The NVG is a serious ocular ischemic complication. Prompt therapy maintained or improved the vision and controlled IOP in 50% and more cases.