EyeRounds Online Atlas of Ophthalmology

Contributor: Kevin D. Brady, MD, Curtis L. Hagedorn, MD and Greg Zablocki, Retina Consultants of Colorado, P.C.

Category: Retina

Rubeosis associated with Retinal Detachment

This non-diabetic patient developed rubeosis iridis in response to a chronic inferior retinal detachment following surgery with silicon oil.
While primary retino-vascular disease such as diabetic retinopathy and vein occlusions causes most rubeosis, ischemia of the outer third of the retina occurs in detachment and rubeosis may develop. Ischemic retina releases vaso-proliferative humors – such as vascular endothelial growth factor – which circulate anteriorly into the aqueous.
These stimulate the growth of new vessels along their route as in this case where vessels are forming most densely at the papillary margin and near the iridectomies.

Images copyright 2005, Retina Consultants of Colorado. To use any of these areticles, please contact the contributors at www.retinacolorado.com