Treatment of Corneal Vessels: Which Modality is Ideal for an Optimal Result?

Abstract

Corneal neovascularization (NV) is characterized by the invasion of new blood vessels into the cornea from the limbus. It is caused by a disruption of the balance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors that preserves corneal transparency. Corneal vessels management has benefited from advances in medical research especially when it comes to the treatment of angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of sub conjunctival injections of anti-VEGF with that of fine needle diathermy in the treatment of corneal vessels, and to compare these results with those obtained following the combination of the two therapeutic. A prospective study was conducted in the ophthalmology department of the university hospital center of Casablanca including 60 patients with corneal vessels that we decided to treat randomly by sub conjunctival injections of anti-angiogenic drugs or by fine needle cauterization  a third group of patients was treated by the combination of the two treatments. Our study showed a superiority of the treatment by cauterization compared to the injections of antiangiogenic agents however a better response was observed in the patients having received the two treatments.