Neovascular Glaucoma

neovascular glaucoma

Neovascular glaucoma is a severe form of eye pressure damage that happens when abnormal new blood vessels grow on the iris and in the drainage angle of the eye. Those tiny new vessels form in response to poor blood flow or oxygen loss in the retina and they can block the normal exit route for fluid inside the eye. When fluid cannot drain properly, pressure inside the eye rises and can quickly damage the optic nerve that carries vision to the brain. Symptoms often include eye pain, redness, sudden decrease in vision, sensitivity to light, and seeing halos around lights. It tends to occur in people with other serious eye or blood vessel problems and can cause rapid, irreversible vision loss if not treated promptly. Doctors diagnose it with a thorough eye exam and special tests that look at the front part of the eye and the retina. Treatment focuses on stopping the growth of those abnormal vessels, lowering eye pressure, and treating the underlying cause of poor retinal blood flow. Common treatments include injections that block blood-vessel growth, laser therapy to the retina, pressure-lowering eye drops or pills, and sometimes surgery to create a new drainage pathway. Because the condition often reflects general vascular disease, managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health problems is an important part of prevention and care. Getting regular eye exams and addressing risk factors early can lower the chance of this sight-threatening condition and help protect long-term vision.