A prospective follow-up study of panretinal photocoagulation in preventing neovascular glaucoma following ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion.

Fifteen consecutive eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and extensive capillary non-perfusion were treated by panretinal photocoagulation using argon laser. Of these eyes six had chronic glaucoma and one had acute angle-closure glaucoma when first seen. One developed neovascular glaucoma before treatment. After photocoagulation iris new vessels appeared in two eyes with pre-existing glaucoma. In one case the new vessels later regressed without further treatment. The prevalence of neovascular glaucoma was considerably less than has been reported in untreated eyes with ischaemic-type CRVO. Poor dilatation of the pupil due to pre-existing glaucoma, cataract and/or massive retinal oedema put a limit on the extent of treatment.