A prospective observational study to evaluate the etiology and staging of neovascular glaucoma

Abstract

To identify the most common cause and the frequent stage of presentation in patients with neovascular glaucoma. Materials and Methods: The present study is a prospective observational study. 136 eyes of 109 patients having neovascular glaucoma in one eye or both the eyes were included in the study. All patients underwent thorough ocular examination i.e., visual acuity, slit lamp bio-microscopy, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement by Goldmannapplanation tonometry, gonioscopy with Posner 4 mirror indirect gonioscope and dilated fundus examination. Neovascularization of iris (NVI) was identified in an undilated state, presence of any ectropionuveae, hyphema, anterior chamber reaction, pseudoexfoliative material, keratic precipitates and other signs of uveitis were noted. The number of quadrants of the angle having neovascularization was noted. Results: The mean age was 57.59 ± 12.6 years, 80.73% were males and 19.26% were females. Mean IOP was 27.14 ± 11.3 mm of Hg. 74 (54.4%) presented in rubeosisiridis stage, 38 (27.9%) in angle closure stage and 24 (17.6%) in open angle stage. 89 (65.4%) had diabetic retinopathy in variable severity, 16 (11.7%) had uveitis and 14 (10.2%) had retinal vein occlusion. Mean IOP angle closure stage was found to be 36.53±16.259 mm of Hg which is significantly higher than the other two stages (P = 0.000) Conclusion: In the present study, it was found that Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause and rubeosisiridis is the most common stage of presentation in NVG.