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Table 1 Current approaches for the management of corneal neovascularization; advantages, limitations, and complications

From: Therapeutic approaches for corneal neovascularization

Treatment

Advantages

Limitations

Complications

Corticosteroids

Reduction in inflammation and corneal neovascularization

Limited effects on pre-existing mature corneal vessels

Superinfection, glaucoma, and cataract formation

Laser

Simple and tolerable procedure, obliteration of corneal efferent vessels

Frequent reopening of the afferent vessels, ineffective in extensive corneal neovascularization

Inadvertent damage to the corneal endothelium or crystalline lens, and suture lysis

Fine needle diathermy

Inexpensive, obliteration of afferent and efferent vessels at different corneal depth

Reopening of the afferent vessels necessitating retreatment

Corneal micro perforation, intracorneal haemorrhages, transient opacification of the cornea, and striae

Anti-VEGF agents

Effective on active young vessels

Expensive, limited anti-angiogenic effects on stable mature and deep vessels, difficulties in manufacturing, short half-lives

Persistent epithelial defects and stromal thinning with topical bevacizumab

  1. VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor