Behaviour of the iris vasculature in central retinal vein occlusion: a fluorescein angiographic study of the vascular response of the retina and the iris.

The findings in iris fluorescein angiograms of 48 eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) were correlated with the predominant retinal vascular response. In 24 eyes with the non-ischaemic type of CRVO there were no or only minimal iris vessel changes, whereas in all 24 eyes with ischaemic type of CRVO there was iris vessel dilatation and leakage with or without neovascularisation. These findings support the hypothesis that hypoxic retina may be a cause of rubeosis iridis in CRVO.