PURPOSE: To photographically document venous collateral development, remode
ling, and regression in a patient with traumatic glaucoma.
METHODS: Consecutive fundus photographs were evaluated, labeled, and correl
ated with the clinical history of a patient with unilateral posttraumatic g
laucoma.
RESULTS: This report photographically documents the appearance, remodeling,
and subsequent disappearance of collateral vessels from venous occlusion o
n the surface of the optic disk in an eye with increased intraocular pressu
re and progressive glaucomatous cupping.
CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic chronic obstruction of a branch retinal vein on t
he optic disk may cause venous collaterals to develop in the absence of ret
inal hemorrhages or other signs of venous occlusive disease. Increased intr
aocular pressure, arteriolarsclerosis, and glaucomatous cupping are risk fa
ctors for these occlusions, (Am J Ophthalmol 1999;128:101-103. (C) 1999 by
Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).