Clinical correlates of common corneal neovascular diseases:a literature review

• Main Authors: Nizar Saleh Abdelfattah, Mohamed Amgad, Amira A Zayed, Hamdy Salem, Heba Hussein, Nawal Abd El-Baky
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Press of International Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO PRESS) 2015-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: cornea; neovascularization; herpes simplex keratitis; keratoplasty; contact lens; keratoprosthesis
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4325264/

A large subset of corneal pathologies involves the formation of new blood and lymph vessels (neovascularization), leading to compromised visual acuity. This article aims to review the clinical causes and presentations of corneal neovascularization (CNV) by examining the mechanisms behind common CNV-related corneal pathologies, with a particular focus on herpes simplex stromal keratitis, contact lenses-induced keratitis and CNV secondary to keratoplasty. Moreover, we reviewed CNV in the context of different types of corneal transplantation and keratoprosthesis, and summarized the most relevant treatments available so far.