Neovascularization of the iris in retinoschisis

PURPOSE: To report the association of rubeosis iridis with chronic bullous degenerative peripheral retinoschisis. OBSERVATIONS: A 63-year-old female presented with acute hyphema and neovascularization of the iris in association with elevated intraocular pressure. Posterior segment examination including imaging revealed no vascular occlusion as a potential cause. However, large, peripheral bullous retinoschisis was noted in the right eye. No nonperfusion aside from that seen within the schism detachment, or neovascularization of the retina on wide-field fundus photography or fluorescein angiography was noted. Bullous retinoschisis was also found in the left eye. The patient was treated conservatively with prednisolone acetate and timolol eye drops. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Chronic bullous retinoschisis can be associated with anterior segment neovascularization such as rubeosis iridis, presumably due to non-perfusion within the retinoschisis cavity.