Clinical Evaluation of Corneal Neovascularization: A Brief Review

The healthy cornea is optically transparent tissue. Basically 3 features of the cornea provide its transparency: avascularity, constant water content and regular arrangement of collagen fibers. When the cornea loses its optically clear structure, it inevitably causes a decrease in visual acuity. Infection, inflammation, limbal stem cell deficiency, tumors and contact lens usage can cause corneal neovascularization. Disruption of the balance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors on the ocular surface plays a role in the pathogenesis of corneal vascularization. Most of the treatment options used in daily practice are effective when neovascular vessels are immature.