Hypoxia-induced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor by retinal cells is a common factor in neovascularizing ocular diseases.

Abstract

VEGF may be one of the long anticipated factors linking retinal ischemia and intraocular angiogenesis. Irrespective of the cause of retinal ischemia, sustained overproduction of VEGF by ischemic retinal cells may promote retinal and iris neovascularization in a number of neovascular eye diseases.