Neovascular glaucoma is a vision-threatening eye condition. It’s characterized by new blood vessel growth over your iris and the area where fluid drains from your eye.

Glaucoma is a group of conditions characterized by damage to your optic nerve that relays information from your eye to your brain. It’s usually caused by increased pressure inside the front of your eye that puts pressure on this nerve.

Primary glaucoma occurs in the absence of underlying medical conditions, while secondary glaucoma has an underlying cause.

Neovascular glaucoma is a type of secondary glaucoma that occurs when your eye makes extra blood vessels that cover the area where fluid normally drains out of your eye. It requires prompt treatment and can be vision-threatening.

Neovascular glaucoma develops when new blood vessels form over your iris and the area where fluid usually drains from your eye.

It’s usually caused by conditions that block blood flow to your retina. The most common conditions that lead to the development of neovascular glaucoma include:

  • diabetic retinopathy (in about 33% of cases)
  • ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (in about 33% of cases)
  • ocular ischemic syndrome (in about 13% of cases)

You might not have symptoms in the early stages of neovascular glaucoma. When symptoms do appear, neovascular glaucoma typically presents with:

  • eye redness
  • eye pain
  • significant vision loss

Other signs and symptoms can include:

Neovascular glaucoma is a serious type of glaucoma that comes with a serious risk of vision loss.

Complications of neovascular glaucoma and surgical treatment can also include:

  • vision loss
  • pain
  • corneal decompensation, where the cornea becomes swollen
  • hyphema, where blood pools in the anterior chamber of your eye

It’s important to seek medical attention if you notice any changes to your vision, such as blurry vision with or without eye pain. Many conditions can cause changes to your vision, and some are more serious than others.

An eye doctor can examine your eye and rule out potentially serious conditions contributing to your symptoms.

Medical emergency

Go to the nearest emergency room if you experience:

  • severe eye pain
  • eye pain after trauma
  • sudden blurry vision
  • severe headache with vision changes

To diagnose neovascular glaucoma, your eye doctor will consider your symptoms and examine both your eyes. They may be particularly likely to believe you have glaucoma if you have diabetes or other risk factors.

During an eye exam, your eye doctor will look for signs of neovascular glaucoma, such as:

  • abnormal blood vessels
  • swelling in your cornea
  • blood in the anterior chamber of your eye

Treatment for neovascular glaucoma mostly consists of one or several of the following:

  • medications to reduce inflammation, eye pressure, and control pain
  • fluid drainage procedures
  • eye injections to stop the formation of new blood vessels
  • trabeculectomy, a surgery that reduces eye pressure
  • cyclodestruction, the destruction of the part of your eye that produces fluids
  • panretinal photocoagulation, a type of laser treatment
  • alcohol injection or enucleation or removal of the eye for chronic pain

Neovascular glaucoma medications

You may receive anti-VEGF injections to help prevent the development of abnormal blood vessels. These might consist of the medications:

  • bevacizumab (Avastin, Alymsys, Mvasi, Zirabev)
  • ranibizumab (Lucentis, Susvimo, Byooviz, Cimerli, Raivisio, Ranopto)
  • aflibercept (Eylea, Zaltrap, others)

Various topical medications might be used to reduce pressure in your eye, such as:

  • beta-blockers
  • carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
  • alpha-agonists
  • prostaglandin analogs
  • topical atropine
  • topical corticosteroids

Many people who develop neovascular glaucoma develop severe vision loss and have a poor outlook. The best outlook usually occurs in people who are treated promptly in the early stages.

The most common cause of neovascular glaucoma is diabetes. You may be able to prevent diabetes by:

  • eating a balanced diet low in processed sugar
  • exercising regularly
  • maintaining a moderate weight
  • improving sleep quality

Learn more about preventing diabetes.

What is the difference between glaucoma and neovascular glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of conditions that cause damage to your optic nerve. Neovascular glaucoma is one specific type of glaucoma where new blood vessels block your eye’s drainage.

What is the main cause of neovascular glaucoma?

Neovascular glaucoma often develops as a complication of conditions like diabetic retinopathy or ischemic central retina vein occlusion.

Can neovascular glaucoma be cured?

Neovascular glaucoma has the best outlook with early and aggressive treatment. You have the best chance of preserving your vision the earlier you’re treated.

Neovascular glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by the development of new blood vessels that can severely affect your vision. It tends to have a poor outlook compared to other types of glaucoma and many people have vision loss.

It’s important to see an eye doctor any time you notice changes in your vision. Many conditions that cause vision loss have a better outlook when treated early.