Retinal neovascularization occurs when there is retinal ischemia and leads to release of angiogenic factors like VEGF. Retinal neovascularization that occur within 1 disc diameter (DD) is considered as neovascularization of the disc and if further than 1 DD away, classified as neovascularization elsewhere (NVE). Common conditions that causes retinal neovascularization includes: diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and ocular ischemic syndrome.
Retinal neovascularization first develops in the intraretinal layers but will extend into the vitreous cavity and disrupt the inner limiting membrane (ILM) forming fibrovascular proliferations. SD-OCT when scanned over retinal neovascularization will reveal hyperreflective lesions that disrupt the ILM and protudes into the vitreous cavity connecting to the posterior hyaloid membrane if present.
Neovascularization elsewhere (NVE)
Figure 1: Early retinal neovascularization with fibrovasular growth breaking the ILM and extending into the vitreous.
Neovascularization of the disc (NVD)
Figure 2: Neovascularization of the disc (NVD) with fibrovascular membane growing over the optic disc. The fibrovascular membrane is attaching to the posterior hyaloid membrane and blocking the view of the optic disc cup. This patient has high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
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