Arterial obstruction and ocular neovascularization.

A series of 12 patients (13 eyes) with neovascular glaucoma in association with arterial obstructive disease is presented. Appropriately characterized as having an ocular ischemic syndrome, the anterior segment findings in each included aqueous flare and rubeosis iridis. Posterior segment manifestations included midperipheral intraretinal hemorrhages (venous stasis retinopathy), narrowed retinal arteries, often a cherry red spot, and neovascularization of the disc and/or retina. Most eyes with the ocular ischemic syndrome have either ipsilateral common carotid artery obstruction or severe bilateral obstruction of the internal carotid arteries.