Posterior segment neovascularization associated with acute ophthalmic artery obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To report previously unrecorded ocular neovascularization associated with acute ophthalmic artery obstruction (AOAO) that presents clinical manifestations of acute concomitant obstruction of the retinal and posterior ciliary circulations.


METHODS
This report documents the clinical, fluorescein angiographic, and histopathologic findings in two patients with AOAO followed by posterior segment neovascularization.


RESULTS
Ophthalmoscopic findings showed whitening of the posterior pole, arterial attenuation, and a pale optic disk. Serial fluorescein angiograms showed a nearly total shutdown of choroidal and retinal perfusion, degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris, and eventual development of a huge neovascular frond at the posterior pole. Histopathologic examination of the enucleated eyeball showed inner retinal necrosis caused by central retinal artery obstruction, degeneration of the outer retina with choriocapillaris obstruction caused by impairment of choroidal circulation, and a thick preretinal neovascular frond at the posterior pole.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that AOAO can induce ocular neovascularization, which to the authors' knowledge has not yet been reported.
Ko
M K
MK
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
D S
DS
D000208:Acute Disease; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery; D011379:Prognosis; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity