title: Bilateral Hypertensive Retinopathy Complicated with Retinal Neovascularization: Panretinal Photocoagulation or Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Treatment?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the case of a patient with bilateral hypertensive retinopathy complicated with retinal neovascularization who received anti-VEGF intravitreal injection in one eye and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in the fellow eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 33-year-old male patient presented with gradual visual loss in both eyes for the last 5 months. At that time, he was examined by an ophthalmologist and occlusive retinopathy due to malignant systematic hypertension was diagnosed. He was put on antihypertensive treatment but no ophthalmic treatment was undertaken. At presentation, 5 months later, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.1 in the right eye (RE) and 0.9 in the left eye (LE). Fundus examination was compatible with hypertensive retinopathy complicated with retinal neovascularization. Fluorescein angiography (FFA) revealed macular ischemia mainly in the RE and large areas of peripheral retinal ischemia and neovascularization with vascular leakage in both eyes. The patient was treated with two anti-VEGF (ranibizumab) injections with 2 months interval in the RE and PRP laser in the LE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up examination after 12 months showed mild improvement in BCVA, and FFA documented regression of retinal neovascularization in both eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertensive retinopathy can be rarely complicated with retinal neovascularization. Treatment with PRP can be undertaken. In our case, the use of an intravitreal anti-VEGF agent seemed to halt its progression satisfactorily.
authors.affiliation: Retina Department, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.affiliation: Retina Department, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stamatina A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kabanarou
authors.affiliation: Retina Department, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Batsos
authors.affiliation: Retina Department, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Feretis
authors.affiliation: Retina Department, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xirou
keywords: Anti-VEGF; Hypertensive retinopathy; Panretinal photocoagulation; Retinal neovascularization